In the fall of 2015, SOCIHACKS, California State University Channel Islands and Verizon joined together 60 young women ages 12 – 18 along with twenty adult role models for Ventura County’s very first all-girl youth hackathon!
The one-day event was funded by Verizon to promote their Inspire Her Mind initiative, whose mission it is to close the gender gap in STEM/STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math). With little to no prior experience, these brave young women from the Ventura County school system worked together in teams to create websites and videos encouraging other young girls to pursue careers in STEM and STEAM.
Women hold fewer than 25 percent of the STEM (Science, Technology Engineering and Math) jobs in the U.S. And only 18 percent of the engineers in the country are women. Martin V. Smith School of Business & Economics Dean, William P. Cordeiro, Ph.D., explained why this collaboration between young girls and female adult role models was so important, “Instead of having the mentors say ‘It’s important to go into STEM careers,’ they created this project together.”
Blackstock Junior High School Principal, Tom Beneke, is well aware of the statistics when it comes to girls and STEM, which is why he bussed 40 seventh and eighth grade girls to the Saturday event. “Four out of five of our science teachers are female, so they understand the struggle to get young women in science and technology,” he said. “They understand the importance of encouraging our young women of color and our young women in poverty. Education is a way to advance ourselves, our families and our communities.”
We are so proud of each and every one of these young women and can’t wait to see the mark they leave on the world!
Acknowledgements and Special Thanks
Special Guest: State Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin
California State University Channel Islands Faculty and Staff
Gayle Hutchinson, Provost
William P. Cordeiro, Ph.D. Dean of Martin V. Smith School of Business & Economics
Susan A. Andrzejewski, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Marketing
Catherine Burris, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Performing Arts
Volunteer Video/Media Production
Luke Butcher, Butcher Snaps Media
Cody Stoner
Community Volunteers
Jill Schaffer, Executive Director of Ventura Leadership Academy
Patricia Lynn-Strickland, Studio V 4 Arts
Tracy Hudack, Creativity Works
Frankie Certain, AMC Photography
Rhonda Hill, Edge Emerging Designers GOT EDGE
Program and Facilitation
Melissa Carlysle, CEO of SOCIHACKS
Multimedia and Social Media
Allison Carlysle, Executive Creative Director of SOCIHACKS
Hospitality Services
University Glen of California State University Channel Islands
And countless other faculty, staff and community leaders that helped make this event possible!
Team Megan Smith
Team Ellen Ochoa
Team Clara Barton
Team Red Burns
Team Jacqui Irwin
Team Dr Mae Jemison
Team Marie Curie
Team Jane Goodall
Team Jacqui Erwin
VOLUNTEERS ARE LOVE IN MOTION
I'm so excited!
STEM is a great opportunity for all members of the community to come together and provide our youth with the tools to not only better themselves but our environment as well! I'm so excited to be a part of this fantastic event!
"It literally changed my life!"
I had the privilege of volunteering for one of Ventura County’s very first SOCIHACKS hackathons held at CSUCI and it literally changed my life. The room was filled with excitement and energy "stemming" from young girls eager to learn in a completely unique forum which was primed perfectly to capture their passion for science & technology.
I am thrilled to support and be a part of the STEAM movement!
I enjoyed my experience with SOCIHACKS! They offer a great learning environment that offers tremendous amounts of knowledge in a variety of subjects. I am thrilled to support and be a part of the STEAM movement!
"I loved being part of the STEAM leadership program!"
What do you get when you mix a bunch of young post-millennials, some baby boomers, and a couple of millennials with a goal and a deadline? You get a lot of creative action and a darned good product! I loved being part of the STEAM leadership program!
"Truly inspirational!"
I was fortunate to be asked to volunteer for the CSUCI/Verizon Inspire Her Mind Event. As the day unfolded their excitement to create a web page and interact with each other was magical to witness. This event allowed for these young minds to explore a new path to excellence in exciting thriving careers offered at CSUCI.
"It literally changed my life!"
I had the privilege of volunteering for one of Ventura County’s very first SOCIHACKS hackathons held at CSUCI and it literally changed my life. The room was filled with excitement and energy "stemming" from young girls eager to learn in a completely unique forum which was primed perfectly to capture their passion for science & technology.
