County to Bring Microsoft Digi Camps to Maui Youth

Hawai‘i students get hands-on with advanced code training with Microsoft Innovative Educator Fellow Todd Beard at the Maui Economic Development Board’s Women in Technology STEM Conference. Microsoft will bring additional opportunities to Maui County next year with two “Digi Camps.” Photo credit: Casey Nishikawa

Two new Microsoft “Digi Camps” will bring the latest in advanced code training to students in Maui County next year, Gov. David Ige announced on Saturday, May 7, during the 7th Annual Hawaii STEM Conference held at the Wailea Marriott Resort.

Students at this year’s conference gained hands-on experience with Digi Camps during a coding workshop—one of over 40 student breakout sessions held this past weekend.

Microsoft has worked with Maui County and Maui Economic Development Board’s Women in Technology, under its Digital Alliance program to address the need for digital education and workforce readiness.

“Forming an official Digital Alliance with Microsoft is a significant step toward building Maui County’s future workforce,” Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa said.

“We will be able to make the extraordinary resources of this technology leader accessible to our students with the goal of developing the skill sets needed for 21st century job,” the mayor said. “Given the latest challenges to our island’s economy, these kinds of educational opportunities can have lasting impact.”

ʻĪao School sixth-graders Joshua Franco, Bradley Bumanglag and Shayne Enomoto learn the basics of software programming during Microsoft’s Hour of Code breakout session. Microsoft will bring additional opportunities to Maui County next year with two “Digi Camps.” Photo credit: Casey Nishikawa

“Microsoft is proud to support the County of Maui and MEDB’s Women in Technology by providing students with access to Digi Camps,” said Celeste Alleyne, director of citizenship and public affairs at Microsoft. “We believe that technology has the power to help young people do more, achieve more and ultimately realize their full potential. Our hope is that giving young people access to foundational coding and computation skills at an early age will empower them to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math—STEM—fields.”

Both advanced coding Digi Camps are scheduled to launch in 2017—one for boys and one for girls.

Currently, attendee slots will be open to at least 50 boys and 50 girls.

After completing the training sessions, each participant will receive a Microsoft Hour of Code certificate.

According to WIT Project Manager Mapu Quitazol, the county and WIT are working closely with Microsoft to develop the Digi Camp agenda and promotion to local schools. Dates for the event will be announced once they have been finalized.

For more information, contact Mapu Quitazol at [email protected] or call (808) 875-2343.

WIT is an initiative of the MEDB. Its mission is to promote STEM throughout the state with hands-on and project-based service learning.

Visit www.womenintech.com.

Gov. David Ige talks to representations from MEDB and Microsoft: (left to right) Leslie Wilkins, MEDB vice president; Gov. David Ige; Jeanne Skog, MEDB president and CEO; Ned Davis, MEDB chairman of the board; Todd Beard, Microsoft innovative educator fellow; Hawai‘i First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige; Cameron Evans, chief technology officer at Microsoft; and Celeste Alleyne, director of citizenship and public affairs at Microsoft. Photo credit: Casey Nishikawa

Over 883 students, teachers and industry professionals attended this year’s Hawaii STEM Conference on May 6 and 7. The event featured 43 student breakout sessions, 16 teacher professional development breakout sessions, 15 STEM competitions, a formal awards banquet and STEM exhibit presentations.

Attendees gained first-hand exposure to advanced technologies, the latest software training and real world challenges in the form of fun, hands-on STEM team competitions.

Download the STEM Conference program.

The conference was sponsored by WIT in partnership with the County of Maui.