The Univerity of Arizona Girls Who Code is enrolling now! Girls and non-binary students in 6th–12th grade are invited to join this free computer science club that meets on Saturdays from noon to 1:30 p.m. on the UofA campus.

The club provides everything that students need to explore technology at their own pace. No coding experience is required, and students do not need a computer at home to join.

“This year we are adding more hands-on workshops,” said Portia Cooper, a computer science M.S. student who is the club’s Lead Facilitator. “Last year, we partnered with the College of Engineering for an Arduino microcontroller seminar. The students loved it! So, we are lining up more events of this type.”

Women are currently underrepresented in technology fields, and UArizona Girls Who Code aims to change that. The club is sponsored by Women in Science in Engineering (WISE) at the University of Arizona, and it is staffed by graduate and undergraduate students.

“The club comes with built-in role models,” said Dr. Stephanie Murphy, WISE Director. “The program is structured to give middle and high school students sustained, first-hand exposure to university STEM students,” says Murphy. In addition to teaching technical skills, UofA Girls Who Code connects students with other enrichment opportunities.

“I write piles of letters of recommendation,” says Cooper. “One of our 10th graders won a full scholarship to the 2024 Barrett Summer Scholars Program at ASU. I was bursting with pride!”

An open house for the club will be held at the University of Arizona Main Library in Room 254 on Saturday, Sept. 14 from noon. to 1:30 p.m. Interested students can get enrollment information by signing up for the club’s mailing list at https://wise.arizona.edu/girls-who-code.