Day of Code is a Collaboration Between the Springfield School District, River Valley Technical Center, Black River Innovation Campus (BRIC), Community Leaders, and Other Partners
Vermont Business Magazine 450 students from Riverside Middle School and Springfield High School and the River Valley Technical Center will participate Thursday in a day of coding that includes hands-on coding activities and panel discussions with computer science professionals. The day is designed to expose local students to coding, give them an opportunity to hear from computer science professionals, and explore pathways to coding careers.
During the daylong event, students will participate in activity groups that tackle coding challenges. Activities include creating a sound board, making a website, and making quiz, adventure, interactive story, and sports games. At the end of the day, the activity groups will share their work with each other to give all students an overview of the coding projects tackled by their peers. The sessions will be guided by 10 Vermont-based developers volunteering their time, as well as teachers from the school system. Students will also attend panel discussions with professionals currently working in computer science fields. The panelists will take questions from the students about how they became involved with coding and what kind of jobs are available in the field.
The Day of Code is organized by Marguerite Dibble, President and CEO of GameTheory, who grew up in Southern Vermont, graduated from Champlain College, and started her company in Burlington. Marguerite and her company have worked for years on ways to bring technology and gaming into novel spaces to empower and support individuals. The program is made possible with financial support from the Vermont Community Foundation, the Windham Foundation, and the Siegel Family Endowment.
In addition to the Day of Code, the Springfield School District has committed to build an ongoing computer science initiative that will give every high school graduate at least a semester of coding experience.
“As we prepare Springfield students for their futures, we know that their personal, economic, and civic lives will constantly be intersecting with the world of technology. As a school district, we are committed to becoming a regional center for not just the exploration of that intersection, but the empowering of students to shape its impact on their lives,” said Dr. Zach McLaughlin, Superintendent of Springfield School District. “The Day of Code is just the tip of the iceberg of a growing movement in greater Springfield to put our students at the forefront of these opportunities in the state of Vermont. So, I encourage Vermonters to keep following our progress for there is more to come from Springfield School District and the River Valley Tech Center.”
“As a game developer, it’s important to me that we take time to expose young people to coding and computer science,” said Marguerite Dibble, President and CEO of GameTheory. “There are so many tech opportunities for young people, but they may not get the equal opportunities to explore. Technology needs new and diverse voices, and helping students realize that tech and coding can be a tool for creativity opens the door to many possible futures. It’s is a great way to foster interest and hopefully lead to an inclusive and empathetic future for tech, as well as a wealth of opportunities for these students.”
“This Day of Code is an exciting start to what will be a concerted effort to introduce the youth of the area to technology and opportunities. It’s a vital part of the ecosystem that the BRIC project is attempting to create in the Springfield area,” said Bob Flint, Executive Director of the Springfield Regional Development Corporation.
“Computer science education is a vital part of developing a digital economy ecosystem. These Springfield students represent the future tech workers of tomorrow, and the Day of Code will give them a deeper understanding of the potential for careers in computer science fields,” said Matt Dunne, Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) Founder and Executive Director. “This collaborative partnership among the school system, local coders, and funders like the Vermont Community Foundation is inspiring and opens up a world of opportunities for young Vermonters thinking about their futures.”
Once a national leader in manufacturing technology, Springfield is primed for a successful revival as a leader in the digital economy thanks to its affordable, widespread 10 gigabit internet access, inexpensive local real estate, and the availability of skilled talent. CORI, the Springfield Regional Development Corporation, and their partners have raised $1.724 million to create the Black River Innovation Campus (BRIC), an innovation hub in Springfield focused on digital jobs, entrepreneurship, and computer science training. BRIC will be a live/work/learn platform for leveraging these assets to create new opportunities for digital economy employment, entrepreneurship, and education. When fully operational, BRIC will match national tech employers with remote workers, provide digital skills training, and bring together computer science education and a residential entrepreneurship program to support technology startups in the region.
Last year, BRIC was awarded $724,000 from the highly-competitive U.S. Economic Development Administration Regional Innovation Strategies i6 Challenge grant program. BRIC has received additional financial investment from LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman of Greylock Partners, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the Siegel Family Endowment, and the Vermont Community Foundation, as well as from members of Vermont’s innovation community.
CORI is a Hartland, VT-based nonprofit that works to achieve sustainable economic success in small town America. In collaboration with community leaders, CORI plans and executes downtown innovation hubs using local, regional, and national partnerships, and proven best practices for fostering resilient prosperity in rural economies. This network of innovation hubs will share resources and ideas, become a conduit for jobs based locally or around the world, and channel investments to rural entrepreneurs to spark the revival of small towns across America.