- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

Girls learn tech skills at Windstream Girl: CODE Camp

Janea Snyder — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 18:30:58 +0000

Sixteen rising eighth- and ninth-grade girls just spent a week at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock learning coding skills that will come in handy for future STEM careers. The girls coding camp, made possible with a $10,000 sponsorship from , is a one-week annual residential camp that aims to motivate academically prepared females to enter the fields of computer science, information science or web design. The program is free to participants. During the camp, which ended July 26, girls stayed in ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s on-campus housing so they also got a taste of what it’s like to be on a college campus. During the day, they worked with Thomas Wallace, senior instructor of information science and ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s coordinator of the Web Design and Development program and information technology minor. “Our focus has been on the web stack of three core technologies: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript,” Wallace said. “Each day we focused on a different layer. The afternoons were for lab, and that’s where they applied the skills they learned.” The girls also took a field trip to Windstream where they learned how to provision a phone system, participated in binary coding exercises, and toured a network lab. “Working directly with these girls, watching them work together to learn how to provision phones on Windstream’s network is truly an inspirational experience,” said Sara Lary, manager of the Law Enforcement Support Center. “Seeing their excitement when the equipment works and watching them call their parents to share their experience and enthusiasm is proof that we are doing good work and making a difference. Yesterday one of our campers said ‘This is awesome, I want to do this! What do I need to do so I can do something like this with Windstream?’ We need to keep that enthusiasm going for generations and continue to work to provide more opportunities for young girls to succeed at an early age.” Lary’s daughter is a former participant of the camp. “I got to witness firsthand how her experience attending this camp sparked a level of confidence, interest and motivation in her education and career path that she didn’t have previously,” Lary recalled. “Once she was given the opportunity to learn cool, relevant things with technology in a healthy environment, she became excited about her future. We can do this for all young girls. By fostering an interest in STEM (now STEAM) topics at a young age and working on the negative connotations and barriers that girls face today, educators, parents, and mentors can work together to help girls maintain confidence and curiosity in STEAM.” This year’s participants were selected from schools statewide based on essay, grades, test scores, and recommendations. Schools represented include Forest Heights Stem Academy, Lisa Academy West, Pinnacle View Middle School, Pulaski Academy, and Quest Academy, all in Little Rock; Fulbright Junior High School in Centerton; Ruth Doyle Middle School in Conway; and St. Joseph School in Russellville. Photo, top right: Girls gathered at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to participate in a week-long coding camp, sponsored by Windstream. Photos left and above right: Girls participate in technology-based challenge activities at Windstream’s networking lab on July 25, 2019. Photos by Benjamin Krain

Girls Coding camp teaches foundations for STEM careers

Janea Snyder — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 16:04:29 +0000

Eighteen rising eighth- and ninth-grade girls in ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Girls Coding Camp are learning skills that might come in handy for future STEM careers. The Girls Coding Camp, made possible with a $10,000 sponsorship from , is a one-week annual residential camp now in its third year that aims to motivate academically prepared females to enter the fields of computer science, information science, or web design. The camp concluded Friday, July 27, with an open house at 10 a.m. in the Engineering and Information Technology Student Services Lab on the first floor of the EIT building. This year’s participants were selected from schools statewide based on essay, grades, test scores, and recommendations. Schools represented include Forest Heights Stem Academy, Lisa Academy West, Lisa Academy Middle School, Episcopal Collegiate and Pulaski Academy, all in Little Rock; Benton Middle School; Haas Hall Rogers in Bentonville; Lincoln Junior High School in Centerton; Cotter Public Schools; Jacksonville Middle School; Perryville High School; Watson Chapel Junior High School in Pine Bluff; Sheridan Junior High School; Warren Middle School; and West Junior High School in West Memphis. For the past week, the girls have spent their mornings in the classroom with Thomas Wallace, senior instructor of information science and ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s coordinator of the Web Design and Development program and information technology minor. “Our focus has been on the web stack of three core technologies: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript,” Wallace said. “Each day we focus on a different layer. The afternoons are for lab, and that’s where they get to apply the skills they have learned.” The girls each chose a web project to work on this week. Lesleigh Sullivan, an eighth-grade student at Episcopal Collegiate School, has been creating a biography page for her project. She is co-captain of her school’s robotics team and will be involved with VEX Club this fall. She attend last year’s coding camp and wanted to return this summer to advance her skills. “This year, I learned about HTML, which I’ve never done before,” she said. “It was nice learning a new technology.” The girls stay in on-campus housing during the week, so they also get a taste of what it’s like to be on a college campus. Earlier this week, they took a field trip to Windstream, where they visited labs to see how networking equipment is tested. In addition to hands-on instruction, the girls attend “Girl Talk” seminars featuring female professionals to learn more about opportunities available for females in computer and information science.

The girls tour Windstream.

“It’s nice to know there are so many women in STEM fields who are setting the path for us so we can do something better,” said Emily Ye, an incoming eighth-grader at Forest Heights STEM Academy. One of the featured speakers was ��Vlog��ý Little Rock alumna Christina Copley, who is head of information technology systems transformation for Windstream’s Consumer and Small Business Division. Copley attended the University of Central Arkansas where she began a major in kinesiology, thinking she wanted to be a coach. Then, she took an elective course in the Information Technology program and loved it. “I thought there would be more opportunities for me there, so I switched majors,” Copley said. She started working at Alltel as a data warehousing intern and continued working for the company while she took night classes at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to earn her MBA in 2014. The girls asked Copley all sorts of questions: How many coding languages do you know? When you were our age, did you think you would be a stay-at-home mom? Do you think your job is different because you’re a woman? Then, finally, they stumped her: “Who is your favorite Chris?” (Chris Pine, Chris Evans, or Chris Hemsworth?) “They were not shy and I like that,” Copley said. “When I was in eighth grade, I didn’t know any women in IT. It wasn’t clear to me that was even a path. These STEM programs are important for girls to know there are options. Now is the age when you plant the seed.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock hosts summer camps

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 13:58:57 +0000

Looking for an engaging summer program to keep a motivated student academically challenged, or interested in having the student explore a new interest? The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is hosting a variety of summer camps in musical theatre, writing, engineering, computer coding, robotics, geology, transportation, swimming, and more. Young Writers Camp Dates: June 11-15, 8 a.m. to noon Grades: 3-6 Cost: $125 Contact: Pam Maisen, 501-951-6574 Emerging Writers Institute Dates: June 25-29, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Grades: 6-8 Dates: June 25-29, 1:30 to 5 p.m. Grades: 9-12 Cost: $125 Contact: Greg Graham, gxgraham@ualr.edu MT Stage: The Hamilton Experience Dates: June 25-29 with Student Showcase at 2 p.m. June 29 Grades: 7-9 Cost: Free Contact: 501-569-3410 or ��ڳٱ�峦��Գٱ��ܲ��.��

“MT Stage: The Hamilton Experience”

Summer Laureate University for Youth (SLUFY) Dates: July 9-20, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Grades: K-8 Cost: $300 Contact: 501-569-3410 or giftedcenter@ualr.edu AP (Advanced Placement) PREP Boot Camp Dates: July 23-27, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Grades: Arkansas high school students enrolled in advanced placement courses in biology, calculus, chemistry, English, English literature, and statistics for fall 2018 Cost: Free

Each VEX Robotics camp costs $175 and includes a T-shirt, snacks, and robotics competition on the final day of camp. Contact Sandra Leiterman at saleiterman@ualr.edu for more information. VEX IQ for beginners Dates: Session 1: July 9-13, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Dates: Session 2: July 16-20, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Grades: 3-6 Girl Powered VEX EDR Dates: July 9-13, 1 to 4 p.m. Grades: Girls 6-12 VEX EDR Dates: July 16-20, 1 to 4 p.m. Grades 6-12 VEX IQ – Advanced session Dates: Session 1: July 23-27, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Dates: Session 2: July 23-27, 1 to 4 p.m. Grades: 3-6

Neva Dagtas (middle) of Little Rock celebrates as her robot, “Walle Jr.,” wins the robotics camp competition for fifth and sixth graders in June 2017.

George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology free residential summer camps

For the following camps, contact Vernard Henley, assistant dean of the College of Engineering and Information Technology, at 501-569-8203 or vwhenley@ualr.edu for more information. High School Research Program Dates: July 9-28 Grades: 8-11 Applications due April 20 Engineering Scholars Program Dates: Session 1: June 17-23 Dates: Session 2: June 24-30 Grades: 8-11 Applications due April 20 EIT Middle School Summer Science Camp Dates: Session 1: July 8-13 Dates: Session 2: July 15-20 Grades: 5-7 Applications due April 30 Geology Camp Dates: June 10-15 Grades: 8-11 Applications due April 20 Girls Coding Camp Dates: July 22-27 Grades: 7-8 Applications due April 20

Trojan Athletics summer camp

Contact: Amy Burgess, amburgess1@ualr.edu Session I: June 4-7, June 11-14, Ages 4-12, $75 for eight lessons Session 2: June 18-21, June 25-28, Ages 4-12, $75 for eight lessons Session 3: July 9-12, July 16-19, Ages 4-12, $75 for eight lessons Session 4: July 23-26, July 30 – Aug. 2, Ages 4-12, $75 for eight lessons Session times of 4:30-5 p.m., 5 p.m.-5:30 p.m., 5:30-6 p.m., and 6-6:30 p.m. are available. Contact: Logan Dahms, lmdahms@ualr.edu Dates: June 11-14, June 25-28 Ages 5-8, Mini Camp, $120, and Ages 9-17, Regular Camp, $220 Contact: Steve Wiedower, slwiedower@ualr.edu, Robert Dallimore, rjdallimore@ualr.edu, Team Camp 1: June 21-22, $180 per day Team Camp 2: Aug. 1-3, $180 per day Advanced Skills Camp: June 23-24, Grades 9-12, $100 Mini Camp: June 18-20, Grades 1-4, $75 Individual Camp: June 18-20, Grades 5-12, $100 Contact: Van Compton, 501-607-2056 Hitter/Setter Camp: July 9-10, Grades 8-12, $50 Serve/Serve Receive Camp: July 1-12, Grades 8-12, $50 Defensive Specialist Camp: July 13, Grades 8-12, $35 Individual Camp: July 16-19, Grades 4-12, $150 Senior High Team Camp: July 23-24, $50 Junior High Team Camp: July 25-26, $50 Contact: Kyle Giusti, kjgiusti@ualr.edu Summer Kids Skills Camp: June 18-20, Grades 1-7, $150 Summer Showcase: July 19, Grades 9-12 and junior college athletes, $150

Summer camp encourages girls to pursue careers in computer science

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 13:17:43 +0000

Looking over a room filled with 15 bright Arkansas girls who are raptly focused on designing websites with the computer coding skills they learned during an all-girls coding camp is a beautiful sight to Thomas Wallace. As a senior instructor of information science at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Wallace is saddened by the lower number of female students in his classes. “We have a hard time attracting women in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) field,” Wallace said. “This camp is a great opportunity to expose girls to the STEM disciplines.” In an effort to interest more girls in pursuing STEM majors in college, the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology began an all-girls coding camp in 2016 for junior high school students. In the camp’s second year, students learned about three coding languages (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript), web development and web design skills, as well as copyright laws and how to use third-party licensed materials during the July 23-28 camp. Camper Karina Batra, a student at Fulbright Junior High School in Bentonville, used her new knowledge to create a website with craft projects for people of all skill levels. With her parents and older brother working in computer-related fields, Batra has plans to major in computer science and work at a technology company after college. Attending the coding camp at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock helped Batra build upon the skills she is already developing by learning python at home. “I’ve had a passion for coding for a while now,” Batra said. “All of my family is in computer-related careers. I wanted to see how women are promoted in the field of computer science.” Elizabeth Polk, a camp assistant and 2017 computer science graduate of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, said she is encouraged to see girls interested in computer science. “I was the only girl in many of my classes,” Polk said. “Girls are more cautious when going into computer science fields. We are trying to show girls that they can do this.” Participants included:

��Marlissa Archie, seventh-grader at Hot Springs Middle School
��Taylor Ballard, eighth-grader from Little Rock
��Karina Batra, seventh-grader at Fulbright Junior High School
��Naomi Choy, seventh-grader at Ruth Doyle Middle School
��DeAndra Grice, seventh-grader from Maumelle
��Amanda He, seventh-grader at Lisa Academy West
��Alison Jang, eighth-grader at Washington Junior High School
��Alyssa Joseph, eighth-grader at North Little Rock Middle School
��Briana Lewis, eighth-grader at Bethel Middle School
��Avery Nelson, eighth-grader at Greenbrier Junior High School
��Sydney Minor, eighth-grader at Greenbrier Junior High School
��Riley Montague, seventh-grader at Pulaski Academy
��Luna Mae Solleder, seventh-grader at Hot Springs Middle School
��Eureka Smith, seventh-grader at Hot Springs Middle School

The camp, which is free to participants thanks to generous donations, was sponsored by Acxiom, Alliance Rubber Company, AT&T, Entergy, Emerging Analytics Center, Mainstream Technologies, Southwest Power Pool, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Department of Information Science, and Windstream.

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

Girls learn tech skills at Windstream Girl: CODE Camp

Girls Coding camp teaches foundations for STEM careers

����Vlog��ý Little Rock hosts summer camps

Summer camp encourages girls to pursue careers in computer science

- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ý Little Rock hosts summer camps