Image: This past fall semester, the University of Georgia’s chapter of Girls Who Code significantly expanded its impact into the Athens-Clarke School District. 26 club members hosted nearly 50 interactive workshops, reaching over 60 students from third to twelfth grade. Girls Who Code is pivotal in shaping a more inclusive and innovative future for the computing industry, signifying the importance of involvement in the local school districts. “There has been growth in both the number of students we teach and the number of volunteers and facilitators from UGA. I see this growth as a massive success because of the way we can serve the students in our partner schools,” said Apurva Sharma, the current president of Girls Who Code. “Without our organization, it would be very difficult for the girls in Athens-Clarke County to find opportunities with such personalized mentorship on particular, current, and sophisticated computer science skills.” The interactive workshops cover a range of topics to introduce students to foundational and cutting-edge computing concepts, including: building websites with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, AI game design, programming Sphero robots, understanding cybersecurity and digital privacy, and the basics of binary. The workshops are carefully curated to build confidence, spark curiosity, and give participants the ability to gain practical skills and insights into the possibilities of technology. Not only has the Girls Who Code Club expanded its external efforts, but internally, the number of members increased more than double. The club hopes that with the increase in members, they can partner more with Athens-Clarke County schools, reach more publicity, and increase collaboration with the national Girls Who Code organization. Type of News/Audience: Student Success
