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Flathead Code Girls United team up with Kalispell police to create smartphone app
KALISPELL — Code Girls United is an an after-school program in the Flathead that teaches coding and app creating skills with hands on experience.
That experience is being put to good use in Kalispell as 13 middle school and high school students in the advanced program have teamed up with the Kalispell Police Department to create a smartphone app that will help the police department in more ways than one.
From left to right: Makayla Davenport, Emma Anderson, Isabelle Ashley
February 11, 2023
Daily Interlake Hilary Matheson
From left to right: Makayla Davenport, Emma Anderson, Isabelle Ashley
December 25, 2022
Daily Interlake
Code Girls United’s advanced program installed a light display at Stockman Bank in Kalispell. From left to right are Tonya Solomon with Stockman Bank, Paula Ferguson with Code Girls United, Sarah Cathcart with Stockman Bank, Amy Moore with Code Girls United, Kary Meschke with Stockman Bank, Makayla Davenport, Isabelle Ashley and Willow Truman. (Courtesy photo).
September 15, 2022
Code Girls United
Tech Trio from left to right: Makayla Davenport, Emma Anderson, Isabelle Ashley. Coding Caribous from left top to right Kiara VanSlayke (Maryn Hobby , Peyton Norris, Evangeline McCormick) not pictured.
August 11, 2022
Code Girls United
Coding Caribous from left top to right Kiara Van Slayke, Maryn Hobby Bottom left to right: Peyton Norris, Evangeline McCormick
Montana team of girls make it to semi-finals of international coding competition
BILLINGS — Several Montana girls are making a big splash on a national stage. They’re semi-finalists in an international coding competition all for their work on an app.
It’s a very impressive feat, especially since the industry is male-dominated.
Maryn Hobby and Evangeline McCormick like to hang out with friends, play with their pets, and do the typical things kids their age love to do. However, unlike most girls their age, they also both love to code.
“My mom told me that there was this coding group, and she asked if I wanted to join and I said, heck yeah,” 10-year-old McCormick said on Wednesday.
Both girls, along with Kalispell residents Peyton Norris and Kiara Van Slayke, are part of a team called the Coding Caribous through the nonprofit organization, Code Girls United. This means they spend a lot of time telling computers what to do.
“There were more women in computer science jobs in the early 90s than there are now. It was like 36% then, and it’s barely 20% now,” said the founder of Code Girls United, Marianne Smith.
Smith helped to found Code Girls United in 2016 to give girls from fourth to eighth grade the chance to learn how to code. It’s taken off since then.
“We’re going to have probably close to between 17 and 20 in-person programs around the state of Montana,” Smith said.
The Coding Caribous designed an app called the Communication Station as part of the International Technovation Challenge, competing against 20,000 other girls. Their creation made it to the semi-finals in the beginner’s division.
“The leader called me up and she was like hey, you guys are in the semi finals and I was like whoa, what,” said 11-year-old Hobby.
The challenge was to create an app that helps the community, and Communication Station does just that. It’s meant to help kids make friends through nonverbal communication.
“Shy kids, and autistic kids and people who can’t talk can find a better way to play games and stuff,” Hobby said.
The app has different choices and cues that kids can use to meet other children.
“You can choose outdoor games, indoor games, and then you press one. And what you’re supposed to do is walk up to someone and be like, hello,” said McCormick.
The whole process is a lot of work.
“Each team has to do a business plan. They have to come up with their marketing research, they do surveys, they do competitive analysis,” said Smith.
These girls say it’s worth it if you’re doing something you love.
“It feels really good that I’m part of a team that’s making apps to help people,” McCormick said.
The girls will find out on Friday if their app makes it to the finals of the competition. Regardless, they say it’s been time well spent.
“The bonds are probably my favorite part about it,” said Hobby.
Smith said seven new programs will be implemented in various Billings public schoo
JUNE 10, 2022
Code Girls United
Tech Trio from left to right: Emma Anderson, Isabelle Ashley, and Makayla Davenport
Screen shots from Found:
Coding Caribous from left top to right Kiara Van Slayke, Maryn Hobby Bottom left to right: Peyton Norris, Evangeline McCormick
Communication Station App Screens and Team Logo:
Code Girls United Senior Division Tech Trio team from Kalispell and the Beginners Division Coding Caribous from Kalispell and Billings are Semi-Finalists in the International Technovation Competition!
Code Girls United Tech Trio team from Kalispell has made the Senior Semi-Finals and the Coding Caribous from Kalispell and Billings has made the Beginners Semi-Finals of the International Technovation Challenge.
The International Technovation Challenge started in 2010, and has over 20,000 worldwide participants in the online competition.
Tech Trio: The Tech Trio team of Emma Anderson, Isabelle Ashley, and Makayla Davenport developed Found. Found helps combat is human trafficking. Their inspiration for Found came from local news pertaining to the problems many people face with human trafficking, particularly in indigenous communities.
Many people are trafficked and have limited resources, particularly teens and young adults, as well as the indegenous community. Found will help people become aware of missing people near them, report suspicious activity relating to human trafficking, prevent teens and young adults from being trafficked online, and identify the signs of human trafficking. Found covers all fifty United States, and the report feature can be used anywhere with an internet connection.
- The missing map feature uses a FirebaseDB to send and retrieve reports from any user with the app. The reports include the missing person’s age and height along with the last known location and other details.
- The report feature lets users report suspicious activity directly to the National Human Trafficking Hotline or local 911 authorities.
- The simulation feature helps prepare teens and young adults for online trafficking threats, such as manipulation and luring. This feature simulates a social media site called Sparque, where a potential friend tries to contact the user. The simulation will take the user from making the decision to accept the friend request from the human trafficker posing as a potential friend, to deciding whether or not to accept a dangerous offer made by the human trafficker. The simulation will help educate the user about the different ways a human trafficker will try to gain the users trust to help prevent the user from being trafficked online.
- The eduational feature includes statistics that help expose the problem of human trafficking, and other helpful information.
You can watch their Pitch video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3QN9TLdl8M Or their Demonstration video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3siwbSjPiI
Coding Caribous: The Coding Caribou team of Maryn Hobby, Peyton Norris, Kiara Van Slayke, and Evangeline McCormick developed Communication Station. They participated in one of Code Girls United’s online classes that included girls from all over the state of Montana.
The Coding Caribous noticed how people struggle to communicate with friends, people, or people to join in with others. Communication Station is designed to fix these problems making the world feel safer and more welcoming for children. The Coding Caribous did extensive market research surveys to find out what features that other children would like to see in the Communication Station app
Communication Station App includes:
A guide of how the app works, an indoor game button, an outdoor game button, and a communication button. If you click on either of the game buttons, you are presented with 12 games. If you click on the communication button, it has tips on how to make friends. The games and communication information is to help children feel more self confident and encourage them to participate and communicate with others. The features are based on the statistics they gathered from their market surveys.
You can watch their Pitch video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1ZMuKWDSRE Or their Demonstration video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSHlDGh0dWA
Code Girls United is extremely proud of the hard work the Tech Trio and Coding Caribous team put into their creation. Our after school program combines real-world coding for young girls in fourth to eighth grade with practical business skills. And, our approach works: program participants have won scholarship money, statewide competitions, and won the Congressional App Challenge!
Studies have shown that 80% of girls participating in programs like Code Girls United have increased self-confidence in their ability to solve problems. Additionally, 58% of participating girls go on to pursue further Computer Science or technical education.
The Code Girls United program runs year-long.and is expanding throughout Montana. If you would like to learn how to bring the Code Girls United program to your area, school, or organization, please contact Marianne Smith at m.smith@codegirlsunited.org And please visit www.codegirlsunited.org to learn more, or to support Code Girl’s United.
DAILY iNTERLAKE
MAY 11, 2022
By HILARY MATHESON
Daily Inter Lake | May 11, 2022 12:00 AM
Local teams place at app challenge event
Daily Inter Lake | May 11, 2022 12:00 AM
The work local teams from Kalispell, Whitefish and Columbia Falls put in to develop apps addressing serious issues affecting teens earned them second and third at the virtual Northwest Regional App Challenge.
The challenge is an annual competition for girls in fourth- through eighth-grade organized by Kalispell-based Code Girls United.
For the competition, teams were judged on business plan presentations and demonstrations of apps they coded and tested for their target consumers. Judges were also provided with phones preloaded with the apps to try them out to better evaluate the technical side.
The Kalispell and Whitefish Coding Cats whose members include Sage Rohweder, Sylvia Blair, Willow Truman and Lainey Kneeland, took second place and received a $2,500 team scholarship.
The Coding Cats app, Perfect in Every Way, addresses eating disorders. The app informs users about eating disorders and seeks to support those with eating disorders to become comfortable in reaching out for help, according to the press release. App users may select how they feel, listen to positive songs affirming acceptance of their bodies, read encouraging quotes, watch videos and get tips on healthy eating.
The third prize winner of a $1,000 team scholarship was awarded to the Kalispell and Columbia Falls Count on Coding team made up of Eleanor Cantrell, Kiska Brassington, and Savannah Ackley.
Their app, Distract Me, addresses self-harm among teens which may lead to health problems and potentially suicidal behavior. The goal of the app is to help prevent self-harm by redirecting teens with a pong game, custom memes, custom movement activities and an artificial intelligence therapist bot that gives responses to users’ input.
Other app topics included: learning about endangered animals, reading analog clocks, getting support for teens in abusive relationships and fun ways to make friends at school.
First place and a $5,000 team scholarship was awarded to the Red Lodge Wild Mustangs team whose members are Marin Gallagher and Madilyn Novasio.
Their app, Wild Horses 101, teaches children about wild horses and owning them. Through the app, users learn about different breeds, ranges and care, according to a press release. Users then get to choose a wild horse and learn to care for them. The app is intended to help users gain an understanding of what it takes to care for a horse they might one day pursue in the real world.
Competitors also heard from First Lady of Montana, Susan Gianforte, who shared her personal story of becoming an engineer.
Code Girls is a Kalispell-based after-school program that teaches girls throughout Montana how to code, develop apps and present their work. For more information, visit www.codegirlsunited.org or contact Executive Director Marianne Smith at m.smith@codegirlsunited.org.
Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 406-758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.
Carbon County News
MAY 5, 2022
Code Girls United
PO Box 8272
Kalispell. MT 59904
Bottom, Left to Right: Bailey Shettel, Anorra Belston and Madigan Sullivan, the Joliet “Positive Peacocks” team gave a stirring presentation
and positive app to help stem suicides.
Red Lodge “Wild Mustangs” Corral 2022
Code Girls United App Challenge
By Eleanor Guerrero
CCN Senior Reporter
Wild is the word for the ride that two Red Lodge Elementary School girls went on Saturday, April 30, in competing in the Code Girls United NW Regional App Challenge. The two student team, 4th graders, Madilyn Novasio and Marin Gallagher, named “Wild Mustangs,” trotted away with first prize, a $5,000 scholarship to be split between the two team members. By means of an ingenious app design, titled Wild Horses 101, they told the story of the Wyoming and Montana mustangs and allowed kids to actively feel they were “owning”
a horse of their choosing. The app impressed the judges as terribly creative and clever. They competed against 10 other teams of 2-5 students. Code Girls United Executive Director, Marianne Smith, said, “The judges were thrilled with their app, the idea, the presentation, and the app technical design, and organization.” The girls said, “You get to pretend you own a wild horse!” Gallagher seemed stunned after they were chosen from the three finalists, saying, “I honestly can’t believe we won!”
The Wild Horses 101 app was created by the team as part of a challenge by the nonprofit, Code Girls United (CGU) to encourage girls in engineering. CGU is an after-school program based in Kalispell, that teaches girls in grades 4-8 how to code, design an app, and create a business plan. It is expanding throughout Montana and currently has teams competing from
Havre, Billings, Joliet, Red Lodge, and the Flathead region. CGU held the event online (CodeGirlsUnited.org) this year as a safety precaution.
The Wild Mustangs created their app at the Hero’s STEAM Center in Red Lodge. They worked hard twice a week, after school from Nov. 2021, through April 2022. CGU creates opportunities for 4th to 8th grade girls in technology course work, preparing them for successful high-tech careers. The goal is to engage student creativity and encourage their participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education fields. The free event is held annually and is open to girls in the 4th – 8th grade, composed of teams of 2 to 5 girls.In designing the Wild Horse app, the girls realized that with their mutual love of
wild horses, helping save them was a challenge worth attempting to solve. They found many kids like wild horses but don’t have ways to see them without depending upon their parents. The wild horse population is too high, leaving many in peril and many are hurt as they are herded. The team used a video to engage the viewers. Adding recorded wild horse
sounds made the experience over the top. Viewers pick a horse, pick the color and even name it. “I love it!” said one of the judges. “It was so interactive…me and my horse!” said another. A third judge remarked, “It might inspire people to go to places where there are wild horses and preserve them. Brilliant!” The team that came in second was the Coding Cats,
and the third place team was the Count on Coding team. Gallagher explained, “I did the coding (which she said was very challenging) and “Maddie did the business stuff…” Both the coding and flow chart were praised as detailed, complex and creative. In the future, they may add steps to “train” your horse, possibly gift another child the ability to see “your” horse and as one judge suggested, possibly donate to the efforts to save them. As people get learn more, perhaps some will end up adopting horses.
Joliet Schools students, Madigan Sullivan, Anorra Belston and Bailey Shettel, with their team named “The Positive Peacocks”, also competed on Saturday. They picked the challenging topic of teen suicide, with steps to help students in need. They were applauded for recognizing the need and for the use of their “Pea Bot” to make it fun for anyone to participate. In doing their app research, Bailey said they found “most tell people to call someone.” Their app goes way beyond. There is a game atmosphere “to reduce stress”
and to make someone sad have a smile as he or she seeks therapy. Bailey said she brainstormed the idea; Madigan designed the pea bot and Anorra figured out how to
make it work. Kevin Kriskovich helped them as leader at the school. “Incredible idea!” and
“Hard topic! Very, very well done!” said some of the judges. Smith observed “They did a great job presenting their business plan!”
There were three Team Scholarship Prizes of $5,000, $2,500, and $1,000. The goal is to engage student creativity and encourage their participation in Science, Technology,
Engineering and Math (STEM) education fields. The annual event was sponsored by a number of corporate entities and foundations, including one led by Governor Greg Gianforte’s wife, Susan Gianforte. Gianforte was the keynote speaker, Saturday, sharing that she was a female minority when she began studying engineering at Cornell University in New York. She holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Cornel, an MS in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley, and an MBA from NYU. She was introduced as an engineer, an entrepreneur, a mom and a philanthropist. Mrs. Gianforte shared that she was always a tomboy and felt comfortable around boys, often working on cars with them. Born in New York City to German immigrant parents, she returned to Germany as an infant after her father died. A few years later, she returned to grow up there. In school, she was able to accelerate in math; it was “very helpful.” Later, in a large public school she attended the first computer science class in the city, a precalculus class and honors physics. She met her husband, now Governor Greg Gianforte, when both worked at Bell Labs in New Jersey, while “at the donut table, giving blood.” Mrs. Gianforte was always active, either raising
their four children, working with the Governor in tech or on their family foundation. After Bell Labs, the Governor went on to other ventures including Brightwork Development, which sold for $10 million. She worked at NNC/KPMG, where she was a senior manager until 1993. The Gianfortes co-founded RightNow Technologies in 1997 which was sold to Oracle,
in 2012, for $1.5 billion. In 2006, the couple founded the Gianforte Family Foundation
and she manages the finances.
CGU’s Smith said this year’s top prize winners, Red Lodge’s The Wild Mustangs, were exceptional in designing and creating such an unusual app. “It was fairly extensive and they did an amazing job.” Judges talked about the complexity of the app and the fact that it was
fun. One judge said, “I was halfway through the app before I realized it was educational!”
The future appears in good shape with such a compassionate, skilled and talented next generation.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
March 9, 2022
Code Girls United
PO Box 8272
Kalispell. MT 59904
Kelsea Bemis
Code Girls United Native American Ambassador
Montana Tribal Computer Coding Grant Pilot Program awarded to Code Girls United
Code Girls United, based out of Kalispell, MT operating after school programs throughout Montana in person and online, was awarded a $50,000 state contract for a Tribal Computer Coding Pilot Project.
The grant award was the result of legislation signed by Governor Gianforte and introduced by Jonathan Windy Boy in House Bill No. 219. The purpose of the program is to provide training and incentives to students in tribal communities for computer coding and computer programming courses that will prepare them for the workforce.
Code Girls United is working in coordination with the Office of Public Instruction to implement the pilot program in one Reservation High School with a future goal to replicate the program throughout Reservation High Schools across the state.
Students will be learning Computer Science concepts, coding, app making, and business skills as they progress to creating their own apps and participating in a competition. Code Girls United endeavors to create a program that not only teaches real world skills, but also builds self confidence and provides a path to future technology learning opportunities. The program will be tailored to include culturally relevant content based on feedback from Native Youth organizations. Additionally, Code Girls United’s Native Ambassador, alumni, and volunteer, Kelsea Bemis, will provide an additional bridge and encouragement for the program.
Code Girls United is very excited to be included in the growth of Montana’s next generation of technology workers who are able to work and stay in Montana.
Code Girls United programs run year-long throughout Montana. If you would like to learn how to bring the Code Girls United program to your area, school, or organization, please contact Marianne Smith at m.smith@codegirlsunited.org To learn more, or support Code Girl’s United please visit www.codegirlsunited.org .
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
June 2, 2021
Code Girls United
PO Box 8272
Kalispell. MT 59904
Josephine Morrison (11), Bigfork
Juliet Skinner (10), Kalispell
Code Girls United Kiwi Coders team from Kalispell and Bigfork is a Semi-Finalist in the International Technovation Competition!
Code Girls United Kiwi Coders team from Kalispell and Bigfork, MT has made the Junior Semi-Finals of the International Technovation Challenge.
The International Technovation Challenge started in 2010, and has over 20,000 worldwide participants in the online competition and 1,000 teams competing in the Junior Division.
The Kiwi Coder team of Josephine Morrison, 11, and Juliet Skinner, 10, developed Sit With Us. The girls participated in Code Girls United’s first online program. The inspiration for Sit With Us was experiences with fear, bullying, and loneliness when going to a new school or trying something new where they didn’t know anyone.
The girls felt that an app that helps people in social situations by introducing them to other people would help solve that problem. Their Sit With Us app matches people in a location or cafeteria who would like to meet people with a group of people already at that location who would like to welcome someone new.
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The app identifies their location and allows the user to request a seat.
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The user is asked a series of questions about general topics.
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The answers to those questions are compared to a group/table response to the same questions.
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When there is a match, both the user’s phone and the group/table’s phone communicate using the phone’s bluetooth function to identify each other.
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The match is made, and the once lonely user now has a group to talk to and even a subject to talk about.
You can watch their Pitch video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Code Girls United is extremely proud of the hard work the Kiwi Coder team put into their creation. Our after school program combines real-world coding for young girls in fourth to eighth grade with practical business skills. And, our approach works: program participants have won scholarship money, statewide competitions, and won the Congressional App Challenge!
Studies have shown that 80% of girls participating in programs like Code Girls United have increased self-confidence in their ability to solve problems. Additionally, 58% of participating girls go on to pursue further Computer Science or technical education.
The Code Girls United program runs year-long.and is expanding throughout Montana. If you would like to learn how to bring the Code Girls United program to your area, school, or organization, please contact Marianne Smith at m.smith@codegirlsunited.org And please visit www.codegirlsunited.org to learn more, or to support Code Girl’s United.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Code Girls United
PO Box 8272
Kalispell. MT 59904
Financial Commitment from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust to Code Girls United!
The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust has made a significant financial commitment to support Montana’s Code Girls United!
Their investment in our state and our girls includes a multiyear $112,000 grant. Code Girls United’s mission is to expand the future career opportunities of 4th – 8th grade girls through hands on experiences in coding, technology, and business. The Code Girls United (CGU) program is year-long, and takes place online in the Flathead Valley, an advanced program in the CGU Kalispell office, and programs in Polson, Joliet, Belgrade, and Anaconda. Each student learns the basics of coding and design work using MITs Appinventor to build their own app. The girls learn practical business skills and create a working Business Plan and Presentation
The program culminates with the NW Regional App Challenge on May 1, 2021. Every participant competes in the NW Regional App Challenge, the International Technovation Challenge and the Congressional App Challenge which CGU teams have won for the past 2 years.
In the fall of 2021, CGU will expand to 5 new locations including the Browning School District, the Flathead Reservation Boys and Girls Club in Ronan, an expanded online program, and other areas in Montana. Please visit https://codegirlsunited.org if you would like more information or would like to support CGU or sponsor the NW Regional App Challenge on May 1, 2021.
Marianne Smith, one of the CGU founders said, “We deeply appreciate the financial support from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. They are committed to the children of our community by supporting our after-school program, engaging and exciting young minds about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) which is the backbone of our technology world. We sincerely thank the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust for their financial commitment and support! They are making a difference in Montana communities.”
The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust was founded by the late Melvin J.“Jack” Murdock, co-founder of Tektronics, Inc., was an innovative, entrepreneurial leader with business interests throughout the Pacific Northwest. Upon his untimely death in 1971, his will directed three Trustees to establish a charitable trust “to nurture and enrich the education, cultural, social and spiritual lives of individuals, families and community.”
The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust serves individuals, families and communities across the Pacific Northwest, including Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington, through grantmaking, enrichment programs and convenings that strengthen the region’s educational, social, spiritual and cultural base in ways that are innovative and sustainable.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
December 3, 2020
Code Girls United
PO Box 8272
Kalispell. MT 59904
Code Girls United Tech Trio team
from Kalispell wins the
Congressional App Challenge!
Code Girls United Tech Trio team from Kalispell, MT has won the Congressional App Challenge for Montana’s Congressional district.
The Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide event that allows middle and high school students from across the country to compete against their peers by creating and exhibiting their software application, and is the most prestigious prize in student computer science. Winning teams apps are put on display in the U.S. Capitol Building.
The Tech Trio app DriveRight was developed as a result of the recent tragedy involving a young girl hit when a vehicle failed to stop for a school bus. The girls felt there was a lack of understanding of the state driving laws. Their app DriveRight helps new and existing drivers learn Montana’s state driving laws in a way that is fun and interactive. The girls conducted research with the Montana Highway Patrol and Montana Department of Transportation to develop their app which includes the following functionality:
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A Flash Card page with preloaded and user defined cards.
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A Scenario Game with the most commonly confused driving situations.
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A Quiz page which contains the Montana Drivers Test questions.
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A DMV near you finder.
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A page with Montana state driving laws and helpful tips for drivers.
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Watch their video entry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=_NnNtGK5xrI
Code Girls United is extremely proud of the hard work the Tech Trio team put into their creation. Our after school program combines real-world coding for young girls in fourth to eighth grade with practical business skills. And, our approach works: program participants have won scholarship money, statewide competitions, and this is the second year in a row that a Code Girls United team has won the Congressional App Challenge.
Studies have shown that 80% of girls participating in programs like Code Girls United have increased self-confidence. Additionally, 58% of participating girls go on to pursue further Computer Science education. Code Girls United mission is to expand the future career opportunities of 4th-8th grade girls through hands-on experiences in coding, technology, and business. The program runs throughout the school year, and has expanded to 4 Montana locations outside of the Flathead Valley, in addition to an online program, and an advanced program.
Please visit https://codegirlsunited.org if you would like more information or would like to support Code Girl’s United.