Software.org: the BSA Foundation is excited to partner with Girls Who Code for its ninth year for a two-week Summer Immersion Program (SIP). The SIP tackles the gender gap in STEM by bringing together young women from high schools nationwide to learn coding in virtual classrooms led by mentors from industry-leading companies.
Girls Who Code instructors will devote most of the two-week instruction time to teaching students—many of whom enter the course with no coding experience—the basics of web development through interactive lessons and projects. This year, students will learn about Game Design through beginner and intermediate computer science concepts, such as UX design basics, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for web development. Students will also participate in mentorship workshops, learn about career opportunities in STEM through women working in the software industry, and meet with members of Congress and other high-ranking government officials.
Throughout the program, students will also participate in a series of mentorship workshops. Software.org continues the work of BSA | The Software Alliance, which has sponsored a DC Girls Who Code SIP classroom since the program’s creation in 2015.
To learn more about last year’s program, visit the 2022 Girls Who Code page.
Tom Gutnick
Instructor
I’m the proprietor of Sunny Banana IT Consulting and I teach IT courses at Northern Virginia Community College. Over the years, I’ve been a programmer, software development manager, data center manager, performance and capacity planning consultant, cybersecurity consultant, and more. I love having a career where I get to play with toys all the time.
When I’m not helping others to harness appropriate technology, I stay sane by creating good food (I’m the family cook) and creating music (both playing and composing). As an undergraduate, it always bothered me how few women were in my computer classes, and it still bothers me when I’m at tech conferences or judging a local high school science fair. So I’m thrilled to be teaching for Girls Who Code for my ninth summer — it’s my way of supporting girl power!
Rebecca Zipper
Lead Teaching Assistant
Hi! I’m Rebecca Zipper. I just graduated Muhlenberg College with a BS in Computer Science and English/Creative Writing. My professional goal is to continue to advocate for equality not only in STEM fields but in the wider world while doing something in software engineering or data analytics. Other than coding, I love singing musical theater, playing my guitar, baking, and writing.
Sophie Eng
Teaching Assistant
Hi! My name is Sophie Eng and I’m from the Bay Area. I am a rising junior at Wesleyan University, double majoring in Economics and Computer Science. Outside of Girls Who Code, I am a software developer for a cybersecurity research lab, which produces a web extension to protect user privacy and data. While I learned to code in high school, I continue to code because I enjoy problem solving and using my intuition! I hope to explore the intersections of Finance and Technology as I pursue my professional interests. I also love to dance, backpack, and listen to Taylor Swift!
Advika Rajeev
Teaching Assistant
I’m Advika Rajeev, and I’m an undergraduate student at Rice University majoring in computer science and minoring in neuroscience and data science. I’m interested in the intersection of technology and medicine, particularly in the areas of machine learning and brain computer interface technology. Apart from coding, I love to dance bharatanatyam, draw portraits, read, and listen to music!
Cathrine Sakin
Teaching Assistant
Cathrine Sakin is a Mechanical Engineering (aerospace focus) and Woman and Gender Studies double major student at the Rochester Institute of Technology. This summer (2023) she worked as a Teacher Assistant at the Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program in the Software.Org sponsored classroom. She helped students navigate their way through various platforms and novel concepts, including the use of Replit, p5play, general programming logic, and debugging. All while emphasizing real world applications and sisterhood. Cathrine chose this line of work because “[her] values of bravery, sisterhood, and activism are perfectly aligned with the mission of GWC, and [she] would never miss such an amazing opportunity to give back to her community of women in STEM!”
Yojita Sharma
Teaching Assistant
Linda Okerulu
Site Lead
Blog Posts:
Software.org Panel Showcases the Value of Mentorship to GWC Students
Volunteers on behalf of Software.org highlighted the pivotal role mentorship plays in driving the success of an organization during the Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program’s fifth interactive engagement. Led by BSA Communications Coordinator Lindsay Emery, the panelists – BSA Senior Director of Legislative Strategy Danielle Brown; BSA Director of Policy Olga Medina; BSA Senior…
Celebrating Software.org’s Ninth Annual Girls Who Code Classroom
During the two-week program, students learned the foundations of coding languages including CSS and JavaScript.
Software.org x Raytheon x GWC Partner for Inaugural Industry Immersion Day at the National Air & Space Museum
In a landmark partnership, Software.org, Raytheon (RTX), and Girls Who Code came together to orchestrate the inaugural Industry Immersion Day at the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum in Washington, DC.
Software.org Panel Shows How Software Helps Digital Transformation in Every Sector
The impacts of digital transformation abound – from the car you drive, to the food you eat, to the technology that is used at the doctor’s office. Software development continues to climb with the various additions in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital trade, and privacy. Software.org’s Manager, Strategic Initiatives Lilia Stone led a discussion on how…
GWC Students Meet With AI Thought Leaders to Learn About Their Career Paths
With artificial intelligence growing in recognition and interest, Software.org organized a panel of AI experts to explain how they became involved in AI and how their careers led them to their current roles. Girls Who Code participants had the chance to listen to five women who have paved their own way to excelling in AI…
Leading Women in Tech and Govt Talk AI, Leadership, Career Paths, and More
Leading women in technology from across industry and government took time last week to meet virtually with dozens of participants in the Girls Who Code program.
Press Release
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