The 4th annual SPARK! Hackathon is coming January 26 & 27 and as one of the organizers, I am hoping that this is the year where we reach a 50/50 split between female and male participation. We've been hovering around 40% for female participation which is better than the 28% taking AP Computer Science exams or the 20% majoring in CS in college. Of course, it's not just about the numbers, but the importance of having representation in the field of technology which impacts every part of our culture and society. I believe this hackathon is a very special experience for all participants: students, mentors and organizers, but you don't have to take my word for it, here's what current and former student organizers have to say about it:
"As a participant, volunteer, and eventually a student organizer, I’ve seen this event from every angle possible, and it just keeps getting better. For some participants, this might be the first time they feel like they’re taken seriously in an academic setting, or the first time they’ve ever been inspired by what they’re learning." - Cami Pastore, 2018 Hackathon Organizer
"The Hackathon is really great for community building because it doesn't matter what school you're from or how much experience you have in computer science. Everyone starts at square zero with the problem statements and can only find a solution by combining talents and working together." - Olivia Strasburg, 2019 Hackathon Organizer
"This event promotes the collaboration between students of different ages and from different schools. It's important because great ideas are made when focusing on the problem statements in such a concentrated time." - Emma Abraham, 2019 Hackathon Organizer
I hope all high schoolers reading this newsletter will consider applying to join the hackathon and please invite a friend to apply as well! Hackathon applicants must be currently attending high school, but no prior experience is required. We are looking for a diverse set of participants with a broad array of interests, experiences and skills. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis starting the first week in January, so please try to apply before December 23! The application and more SPARK! Hackathon info can be found @ spark.stab.org/hackathon.
Not old enough to join the hackathon - check out these events!
January 5 - Girls' Geek Day at Greer Elementary. Girls' Geek Days are all about sparking K-5 elementary school-aged girl’s interest in STEM by providing a fun, collaborative, hands-on environment to learn new skills.
The event is free, but registration is required.
January 16 - Tech-Girls Cyber Physical Explorations is open to 6th through 8th grade students and runs from 5 to 7pm. Explore the UVA Link Lab, learn about game design through bio-tech and check out Girls Who Code Club.
The event is free, but registration is required.
Spotlight: Jee-Ho Kim
Each month we spotlight a woman or girl in tech who inspires us. This month we are highlighting Jee-Ho Kim. She is a senior at Albemarle High School in the MESA program and a mentor with the MESA Bridge Camp, a student-run program where high school students share their love of math and science with middle school girls during a week long summer camp experience.
Why is it important to get more girls and women interested in technology?
Though the issue certainly has improved, there is no doubt that discrimination is still prominent in the workplace. Beyond just females, underrepresented minorities face prejudice everyday, sometimes intentionally imposed, but often innately enforced. In order to break these subconscious biases, we must eliminate barriers that prevent equal representation in the workforce. Exposure to technology, along with other fields of work, must occur among girls and women to allow them choice. Not to force them into the field, but to show them the array of possibilities they are capable of pursuing, and allow them to choose any of these paths. Unfortunately, technology has been stereotyped as a male domain, and it is our job as a society to open the door to everyone.
December 23 (deadline) - Applications are now open for the 4th annual SPARK! Hackathon on January 26 & 27, 2018! This two-day event of learning and making is open to high school students throughout the region. The experience offers participants a unique opportunity to get connected to industry experts and other students who are passionate about changing the world through technology. No previous experience required. Apply now.
January 5 - Girls' Geek Day at Greer Elementary. Girls' Geek Days are all about sparking K-5 elementary school-aged girl’s interest in STEM by providing a fun, collaborative, hands-on environment to learn new skills. The event is free, but registration is required.
January 16 - Tech-Girls Cyber Physical Explorations is open to 6th through 8th grade students and runs from 5 to 7pm. Explore the UVA Link Lab, learn about game design through bio-tech and check out Girls Who Code Club. The event is free, but registration is required.
January 19 - Saturday Student Series at Community Middle welcomes 4th and 5th grade students to a morning of Cardboard Automata 10am to noon. More info.
January 27 - SPARK! Hackathon Demo Party at 7pm is open to all. Come check out what high schoolers from around the region have created during the hackathon! RSVP requested.
January 31 (deadline) - CBIC Tech Tour Scholarship Application. All Juniors and Seniors who participate in tour are eligible to apply for the scholarship. Every year CBIC awards two $2500 scholarships. Apply now.
February 1 (deadline) - EngineerGirl Writing Contest is, for the first time, asking students to submit works of creative fiction. They want stories that inspire EngineerGirl readers to think, "I want to be able to do that." The contest is open to elementary, middle and high school students. More info.
March 1 (registration deadline) - ProjectCSGirls is a competition designed to challenge middle school girls to actively use computer science and technology to develop a solution to an imminent social problem. More info.
March 30(registration deadline)Technovation Challenge. Every year, Technovation invites teams of girls from all over the world to learn and apply the skills needed to solve real-world problems through technology. Technovation takes students through 4 stages of launching a mobile app startup, inspired by the principles of design thinking. More info.
Get Involved!
Are you ready to become a mentor or sponsor a Tech-Girl event? Can you help us get the word out? However you would like to get involved, we need you!
