Students can register now for Zanesville hackathon that inspired sisters to pursue technology careers
(Zanesville, Ohio) –– Best friends and identical twins, Starley and Skyley Jacobs have developed a passion for technology that has ignited their futures thanks in part to a winning experience with the TECHCORPShack. “The 2019 Zanesville TECHCORPShack was my first real opportunity to be involved in designing a project for a competition,” explained Starley Jacobs, “I believe the experience inspired me to enroll as a digital media student at Zane State College.”
The sisters are 2020 Tri-Valley High School graduates and are in their second year at Zane State College where they are pursuing associate degrees in digital media and are expected to graduate in 2023. Participating in TECH CORPS’ hackathon provided the two with a unique technology experience. “I did not have any mobile app development experience when I signed up for the hack,” Starley shared, “The mentors and instructors were great, and they made learning how to develop mobile apps fun.”
The 2021 TECHCORPShack will take place on Saturday, November 6 at Zane State College. Students in grades 9-12 are invited to participate. No prior technology experience is required. In fact, one of the goals of the TECHCORPShack is to provide a safe and supportive environment where students can learn more about technology.
High school students from Muskingum, Perry and Morgan counties can register for the TECHCORPSHack at bit.ly/21tchack. Technology professionals are needed as volunteers at the hackathon. To learn more, visit bit.ly/21tchvol.
The TECHCORPShack in Zanesville will be hosted by Zane State College and is sponsored by AT&T Ohio. This is the fourth year that AT&T has sponsored the TECHCORPShack.
“Our purpose at AT&T is to create connection, and TECHCORPShack does just that,” said Brad McLean, president, AT&T Ohio. “This event connects students with technology in a way that inspires imagination and makes a difference in their lives. We’re proud to have supported this event for years and we’re excited for students from diverse areas of these Ohio counties to enjoy this innovative experience next month.”
“We believe our partnership with TECH CORPS provides area high school students with an opportunity to experience technology education in a safe environment,” shared Zane State’s Dean of Business, Engineering, and Information Technologies, Marcie Moore. “Bringing students onto our campus helps students visualize post-secondary education as a reality they can attain. This is also an excellent opportunity for students to meet people from other high schools and work on team building.”
Through the TECHCORPShack, students learn how to use a mobile app development tool and receive support and guidance from technology volunteers from the community, explained TECH CORPS National Executive Director Lisa M. Chambers.
“Hackathons can sometimes be intimidating to students who have little or no previous experience with technology,” said Chambers. “One of our goals with the TECHCORPShack is to recruit students who are traditionally under-represented in high school technology classes and who have little to no experience with coding.”
By participating in the hackathon, the Jacobs sisters gained valuable skills. The top three skills Skyley gained were teamwork, coding and public speaking. “We built an app titled Garbage Sorter. This app provided information on different recycling methods to help educate people on how to recycle and why it is important,” Skyley shared, “Our team worked great together. By the end of the event, I felt comfortable with everyone. It was a fun experience.”
The TECHCORPShack coding event gives high school students the opportunity to learn about computer science in a fun, engaging and inclusive environment while competing in teams to create an app that tackles a real-world problem or need.
Not only did Starley walk away with skills in communication, mobile app design and teamwork, her team won first prize. “Our team developed an app called Study Pro. It allowed users to develop a schedule with reminders that included a to-do list to help students stay on track with their studies,” she explained. “Our team winning first place at the hack was exciting, and the cash prize was very nice as well.”
About AT&T Communications
We help family, friends and neighbors connect in meaningful ways every day. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to mobile video streaming, we @ATT innovate to improve lives. AT&T Communications is part of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T). For more information, please visit us at att.com.
About Zane State College
Zane State College, established in 1969, values people through our commitment to quality, equity, and stewardship. Zane State College has campuses in Zanesville and Cambridge, Ohio, and offers eight less than one year certificates, five one year certificates, 29 programs that lead to an associate degree, and one baccalaureate program focused on regional workforce needs. As a comprehensive community college, students can reduce their bachelor’s degree costs through 2+2 and 3 +1 transfer options to a wide selection of public and private universities. Visit zanestate.edu for more information. Zane State College is a public college accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org).
About TECH CORPS
For more than 25 years, TECH CORPS has worked to ensure K-12 students have equal access to Computer Science (CS) and Information Technology (IT) programs, skills and resources that enhance early learning and prepare them for college, credential or career. TECH CORPS develops CS and IT programs and deploys tech-savvy talent to assist K-12 schools and youth-serving organizations across the country. TECH CORPS is the longest operating education-technology nonprofit organization in the United States. Over the years, partners such as Nordson Corporation, JPMorgan Chase, Google, Battelle and AT&T have provided TECH CORPS with the fuel to deliver much-needed technology resources to K-12 students and teachers. Since 1995, more than 15,000 TECH CORPS volunteers have shared their time and talents assisting schools and nonprofit organizations in their communities. TECH CORPS was founded in 1995 by Gary Beach, Publisher Emeritus of CIO Magazine and author of The U.S. Technology Skills Gap.
Learn more at Learn more at techcorps.org or connect with TECH CORPS on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter or YouTube.
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