The Scholars & Guides Program is one of Ruby Central's most direct expressions of what this community is built on. The program pairs aspiring Rubyists from underrepresented communities with experienced mentors, called Guides, to help them navigate RubyConf, grow as developers, and find their footing in a community that genuinely wants to see them thrive.
Rubyists know by heart: Matz is nice and so we are nice, or MINASWAN. It flows directly from the philosophy Yukihiro "Matz" Matsumoto embedded into Ruby itself. Ruby exists to make developers as productive as possible, and that productivity is only possible when the community surrounding it keeps bringing in fresh minds, new perspectives, and people who are given the support they need to take their talents and break barriers in the industry. The Scholars & Guides Program is how that philosophy stays alive beyond the language itself.
What It Means to Be a Scholar
For many participants, the Scholars & Guides Program is their entry point into a world that can feel intimidating from the outside. First-time conference attendees, bootcamp graduates, career changers, and early-career developers all find their way into the program carrying some combination of excitement and nerves.
Sunjay Armstead, a UX Engineer who attended RubyConf 2024 as a Scholar, put it plainly:
"I was very intimidated by attending my first RubyConf. It was also my first ever technical conference. I had no clue what to expect, and was unsure of how to set goals and expectations. I needed a guide; someone to show me the ropes and help me make the most of my three days away." -- Sunjay Armstead, Scholar
What he found was something he did not quite expect.
"Wait a minute... People are interested in the work I do? People want to talk to me? People want to help me build my network? I certainly couldn't believe it at first, but the Scholars & Guides program showed me just how great Rubyists are." -- Sunjay Armstead, Scholar
Salomon Charabati, a Software Engineer with eight years of Ruby experience, came to the program looking to plug into the community in a more meaningful way.
"I wanted to meet the community and be involved in it. The power of the Ruby community surprised me." -- Salomon Charabati, Scholar
His advice to anyone on the fence is simple: "Have fun and enjoy every moment of it. Go and talk to people. That's the best part of it."
Looking to get your head start as a Scholar? Apply as a Scholar today.
The Hallway Track and What Happens In Between
One of the program's most repeated pieces of wisdom is about the unofficial part of the conference: the conversations before the first talk, between sessions, over coffee, and well into the evening. Scholars and Guides alike refer to this as the hallway track, and many credit it as the most transformative part of their experience.
Sunjay describes it this way:
"The hallway track is not usually on the official schedule, but it exists. It's that time before talks, between tracks, and after each day wraps up. And it's in these in-between times that you'll grow the most by connecting with others. I am where I am today because of a conversation in the hallway." – Sunjay Armstead, Scholar
What It Means to Be a Guide
The Scholars & Guides Program is not a one-way exchange. Guides consistently describe their experience as one of the most rewarding things they do at any conference, and often, in their professional lives more broadly.
Andy Andrea, a Lead Software Engineer who has been a Guide at multiple Ruby Central conferences, was initially uncertain whether he was the right fit.
"I was a little worried that I wouldn't be a good fit. I hadn't really interacted with the community much before and didn't have too much experience going to conferences. That said, I did really love and value mentorship, so I figured I'd leave it in the hands of the scholars committee." -- Andy Andrea, Guide
After that first year, he knew he would keep coming back. And the reason goes beyond generosity.
"I learn so much from getting to chat with people who are relatively new to software development or even just to Ruby. The types of questions that scholars ask are often completely different from what I chat about with more veteran Rubyists. In many cases, I feel like they're the questions that many of us have forgotten to ask over the years." -- Andy Andrea, Guide
He goes further in describing what witnessing scholars' growth actually feels like:
"Seeing scholars give their first lightning talks, make their first open-source contributions, come back as guides for later conferences or even get hired at a new job can feel borderline indulgent, especially when you get to celebrate alongside the rest of the scholars and guides in the program. It's certainly extremely energizing -- like a triple shot of espresso to the soul." -- Andy Andrea, Guide
Chris Oliver, Founder and long-time community contributor, joined the program because he remembered what it felt like to be new.
"I was that awkward person at my first handful of conferences, so I wanted to help give a warm welcome to new people. We're all here to share our love for the same thing, so we should do what it takes to make people feel welcome." -- Chris Oliver, Guide
And Frederick Cheung, a Senior Software Engineer, found that the impact of being a Guide extends well beyond the conference itself.
"One of my scholars got in touch a few months later asking for tips about CFPs, so I felt so proud when I saw that he got a speaker slot at Euruko. I'm sure he would have done just fine without me!" -- Frederick Cheung, Guide
His broader advice to anyone considering volunteering: "Approach it with an open mind. You won't know what help someone needs, or what help they can give you, until you get to know them."
Thinking about becoming a Guide? Check out the application here.
Why This Program Matters
The Ruby community is not immune to the pressures facing the broader tech industry. Layoffs, hiring slowdowns for early-career developers, and ongoing questions about the language's future are real conversations happening in real communities. The Scholars & Guides Program does not pretend otherwise.
What it does is offer something concrete in response: a structured, human, community-driven investment in the people who will carry Ruby forward. Every Scholar who finds their footing, every Guide who rediscovers their own love for the language through a fresh set of eyes, every connection made in a hotel lobby or conference hallway is a small but real act of building the future this community wants to have.
As Andy Andrea put it, the program was one of the biggest factors in his own decision to stick with Ruby when he was looking for a new job. That is the kind of return on investment no balance sheet can fully capture.
How to Get Involved
Applications are open and will remain open throughout the year for future conferences. Whether you are an aspiring Rubyist looking for mentorship and community, or an experienced developer ready to give back, there is a place for you in this program.
Learn more and apply: Scholars & Guides Program
Support the Program
Programs like Scholars & Guides do not sustain themselves. They exist because people in this community choose to invest in them, financially and otherwise. If the stories in this piece resonated with you, here are a few ways to put that feeling into action:
Supporter Ticket: The most direct way to fund programs like Scholars & Guides is by purchasing a Supporter ticket to our events. Your contribution goes directly toward supporting our Scholars scholarship support or also providing opportunities for students to attend these events.
Additional Support: Ruby Central also accepts one-time donations, monthly membership opportunities, and offers opportunities through our Sponsorship program for organizations that want to make a larger impact on the community.
Matz built Ruby to serve the people who use it, putting human productivity and experience at the center of every design decision. The Scholars & Guides Program is that same philosophy applied to community: an investment in people first, with the belief that everything else follows from there. Supporting it is one of the most Ruby things you can do.