FAIRBORN — Coding, or creating the series of letters or numbers that make websites and designs, is offered as a free weekly program at the Fairborn Community Library for students in sixth through 12 grade.
Although the after-school meet-up, which takes place 4-5:30 p.m. Tuesdays, is called “Girls Who Code,” Caitlin Wichterman, head of youth services at the Fairborn Library, said the group is not gender-specific and invites all students interested in learning how to code to attend. It uses Java Script and is completely free — laptops snacks are included. Attendees sometimes undertake coding activities on their own, but Girls Who Code is flexible enough to allow them to also work together on group projects.
“I hope they (attendees) get exposure to career possibilities,” Wichterman said. “It’s more than an after-school gathering … It’s knowing that gender doesn’t exclude them from a field of work. We’re here to support them and connect them with people who are interested in the same topic.”
Sarah Miller, a librarian aid at the Fairborn Library, is a current computer and electrical engineer student at the University of Dayton. She serves as a mentor during the program and echoed Wichterman’s hopes for the gathering.
“I hope they have fun and want to do it as a career or see it as an option,” Miller said. “It’s rewarding.”
And it seems to be working. Thirteen-year-old Danni Price of Springboro has created a number of designs centered around Pokemon and eyeballs since participating in the group. She said she is interested in graphic design and hopes to go into a career relating to computer engineering.
Girls Who Code will meet once again 4-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5 before it takes a break for the remainder of December. However, it will resume as normal in January.
