CodeCrush Summit Welcomes Keynote Speakers from Geeks Life and Intel Corporation

A new expansion of IS&T’s popular CodeCrush Immersion Program, the summit will draw nearly 150 attendees to the Scott Conference Center (6450 Pine Street).

View the summit agenda.

Keynote speaker Luria Petrucci, of tech entertainment site Geeks Life, will speak on July 26 at 6:30 p.m.

Keynote speaker Mauri Whalen, who leads Intel Corporation’s efforts in open source software development, will kick off the next day, July 27, at 9:15 a.m.

The new summit follows three years of significant growth for CodeCrush’s competitive immersion experience. In 2014, 72 girls submitted applications. Last spring, that number had increased to more than 200.

With a limited number of spots available for 8th and 9th grade girls and teachers, IS&T saw a need to connect the CodeCrush community with the greater IT workforce and expand the program.

Through the support of a three-year $200,000 matching grant challenge from the Peter Kiewit Foundation, IS&T is now able to offer the immersion program twice a year and add an annual summer summit.

The inaugural CodeCrush Summit will bring together previous participants, current high school students and educators, as well as a wide range of community members to celebrate diversity in IT.

“CodeCrush is creating a movement where all individuals feel supported and encouraged to join the IT workforce,” Hesham Ali, dean of the UNO College of IS&T. “The Summit offers an opportunity to bring together local IT heroes, national speakers, high school students and educators – giving us the perfect platform to support and promote a more inclusive IT ecosystem.”

“It’s an honor to be a part of a program that is working hard to challenge the IT workforce to be a more inventive and effective industry,” said Tom Sivo, chief technology officer for Interpublic Group of Companies. “The CodeCrush impact goes beyond just one teacher and student, and we’re thrilled to help expand that reach even further with the Summit.”

The financial support provided for the CodeCrush Summit through grants, community registrations, and sponsorships allows high school students and educators to attend for free.

“We’re extremely excited to support the expansion of CodeCrush and encourage a more diverse community to pursue IT,” Nancee Berger, chief operating officer of West Corporation said. “Through supporting programs like CodeCrush, West can provide more opportunities for girls to discover their career aspirations in IT, and ensure that we’re building the most diverse and innovative workforce possible.”