Inaugural ChickTech Workshop Aims To Engage High School Girls In Tech Saturday, April 14th In Pablo, Montana

Young women from high schools across western Montana will gather for the inaugural ChickTech High School Program kickoff event on Saturday, April 14, in Pablo.

The event, which is free to participants, will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. at Salish Kootenai College. It is hosted by ChickTech: Missoula whose aim is to encourage high school girls to enter computing and technical fields.

"We really want to expose young women who might not otherwise consider a career in a tech field to the options that exist for them," said ChickTech: Missoula Chapter Director Brigitta Lee. "This workshop will build participants’ confidence in their technical abilities and introduce them to other female role models right here in Montana."

Multiple workshops will run simultaneously throughout the day. Participants will be assigned to one workshop, so they can spend the day creating a project that they can take with them at the conclusion of the event.

The morning workshop session will run from 10:30 a.m. to noon and the afternoon session will run from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Parents, teachers and sponsors are invited to a tech show from 4:15 to 5 p.m. where the girls will showcase their projects.

A detailed list of workshops follow:

* Data Science Workshop, organized by the University of Montana Computer Science Program. Students will learn the basics of programming and take home a program that analyzes a data set and produces a visual.

* App Inventor, organized by ATG. Students will learn the basics of building software using "if statements" and loops, among others. They will build a mobile application game.

* Kwul ‘I’tkin. To Make. Designing for the Flathead Reservation, organized by the spectrUM Discovery Area. Students will explore culturally relevant activities with laser cutters and 3D printers.

* Storytelling in the Digital World, organized by LumenAd. Students will explore how to leverage data in the ever-evolving world of advertising technology. They will learn how to use technology to tell an effective story and build a community of loyal supporters.

Nearly 100 young women throughout western Montana were nominated by an educator. Nominated participants attend school in Missoula, Kalispell, Columbia Falls, St. Ignatius, Superior, Hot Springs, Stevensville, Victor, Polson, Ronan and Pablo.

"We were looking for girls who would not find tech on their own, girls who might never think of a career in tech on their own," Lee said. "We wanted educators to nominate these girls so that they see that someone believes in them and that they can follow any career path – even the one they never considered before."

After the kickoff event, ChickTech: Missoula will offer monthly workshops for the girls to continue their education through June.

Sponsors include The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, Blackfoot, LumenAd, Submittable, ATG, Workiva, Opportunity Bank of Montana, Salish Kootenai College, Missoula Federal Credit Union, Montana Code School, Neptune Aviation Services, Great Harvest Bakery, Smart Data SEO and Loose Caboose.

For more information visit http://missoula.chicktech.org/chicktech-high-school-faq/ or call Lee at 520-307-8865.

Contact: Brigitta Lee, chapter director, ChickTech:Missoula, 520-307-8865, [email protected]; Katrina Schweitzer, chapter marketing manager, 406-270-2367, [email protected].

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Note to the media: The media is invited to cover this event. The workshops will be held in Adeline Mathias Building Rooms 119 and 120 , Darcy McNickle Building Rooms 206 and 212 and in the parking lot between Adeline Mathias and 3 Woodcocks building.