CodeCrush Training Helps Promote Technology Fields for Young Women

Nov. 29, 2018, 10:51 a.m. ·

A three-day coding workshop hosted by the University of Nebraska Omaha is focusing on fostering an interest in technology-related fields for eighth and ninth grade girls.


The CodeCrush Immersion Experience at UNO gives students the opportunity to work with mentoring teachers in a wide range of coding and IT fields. These include coding exercises and hands-on experiences in emerging fields like bioinformatics, cybersecurity and IT innovation.

Amanda Rucker, communications specialist for the College of Information Science and Technology, leads the CodeCrush event that started in 2014. She said closing the gender gap within technology-related fields starts with confidence.

“I think when you start the world out with knowing that anything you put your mind to you can accomplish, there is a community of people who are rooting for you and there’s enough room at the table for everybody, then you can go on to do amazing things with a lot of self-confidence,” Rucker said.

With the help of community sponsors, CodeCrush is free for all participants. The training wraps up Friday.