AT&T, CNY STEM Hub, Partners For Education & Business Inc. (PEB) and Syracuse Academy of Science have partnered to create the region’s first computer coding program exclusively for girls, AT&T & CNY STEM HUB Girls Coding Project, designed to encourage more young women to enter the field of technology, specifically coding, an industry that is male-dominant.

The program will provide 50 girls from local schools (grades 6 through 12) across Central New York an opportunity to gain coding skills and experiences and engage them to follow a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) educational and career path.

The program is from July 23 to 26 and July 30 to Aug. 2, at Syracuse Academy of Science, 1001 Park Avenue, Syracuse from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. The free two-week program has been made possible by a $20,000 contribution from AT&T.

The young women participants will learn computer coding basics, learn from mentors and professional coders on the many career opportunities available and learn how technology and computer science can be used for good to create solutions to address issues impacting youth in our region, such as cyberbullying and being a good digital citizen.

The Girls Coding Project will also connect girls with team-based coding projects designed to make a difference in their schools and their community, while providing them hands-on experience developing their own technology. Girls will be mentored by local tech professionals, educators and advocates to identify and design coding solutions to create apps, digital storyboards, animated movies, learning games and basic websites.

The Syracuse Academy of Science is hosting the innovative Girls Coding Project as part of its mission to support STEM education and offer unique challenges and opportunities for students as a means to instill the necessary skills and knowledge in math, science and technology and empower students, through high intellectual standards, to better prepare them for college, career and good citizenship.

The school is also one of the most technologically advanced in the region and has the ability to provide the needed educational tools, such as computer labs, laptops and smart boards for the participants as they learn how to code.

To ensure inclusion and diversity, the organizers are committed to having at least 50 percent of the participants in the program consist of under-represented school girls and to eliminate economic barriers, the program is free, transportation is available upon request and lunch is provided. Participants will not need a computer to take part, all technologies, including laptops, will be provided at the school to each girl for the duration of the program.

To register, girls and their parents must visit cnystem.com and click on the link AT&T & CNY STEM HUB Girls Coding Project under News and Events on the homepage.

The program is open to middle school and high school girls from all districts across the greater Syracuse region. All interested girls must submit a short essay on why they want to take part in the program and their interest in coding, though no previous coding experience is required.  The deadline to apply is July 8.  All applicants will be notified regarding acceptance on or before July 10.

“We thank AT&T for their continued commitment to STEM education in providing the resources and the collaborative efforts of Partners for Education and Business in spearheading this new summer experience for young women in Central New York high schools who are interested in preparing for future Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) careers,” said Dr. Donna DeSiato, CNY STEM Hub, chairperson.

“AT&T is proud to collaborate with these dynamic organizations to develop and support this innovative experience for girls as it further enhances our commitment to providing resources for STEM-related educational programming throughout Central New York and builds upon our vigorous efforts to bridge the gender gap in the technology industry,” said Marissa Shorenstein, president, Northeast region, AT&T. “Our economy continues to transform at a robust pace – requiring a workforce with a focus on technological education and literacy – and computer science programs like this one are vital to ensure that the students of today, despite gender, are equipped to compete in the global innovation economy of tomorrow.”

“PEB is honored to be working with AT&T, the CNY STEM Hub and local companies to use our networks to bring together young women from urban, suburban and rural schools who are interested in learning more about STEM education and careers, said Joe Vargo, executive director, PEB.  “Our camp will not only offer them coding and computer science experiences but will provide opportunities to interact with professional women from STEM companies to help create career sparks in STEM for the participants.”

In addition to the AT&T & CNY STEM Hub Girls Coding Project, AT&T and the CNY STEM Hub are partnering to develop year-round coding activities to keep the participants engaged after the summer program and to prepare the young women for advanced utilization of their coding skills. The program, including an all-girl hackathon, is being created to build off the momentum of the AT&T & CNY STEM Hub Girls Coding Project and to continue to strip away gender barriers in STEM education and professions, while advancing STEM education to local school girls in the region.