New Statewide Program Encourages Montana High School Students to Pursue Computer Science Degrees

CodeMontana plans to have 1,000+ students compete for $10,000 in prizes while preparing for high paying jobs.

Greg Gianforte and Rob Irizarry, along with a state-wide advocacy board, today announced CodeMontana, a statewide program for high school students that challenges them to learn computer programming and encourages their interest in pursuing a career in computer science. The program is open to all high school students throughout Montana and there is no entrance fee. Participants will compete for up to $10,000 worth of prizes. CodeMontana is designed to expose high school students to computer science in an engaging way.

By 2020 it is estimated that there will be one million more jobs than computer science graduates in this country, according to code.org. Also, Computer Science degrees result in the highest paid jobs, yet only 2.4% of college graduates nationally received degrees in computer science, and the percentage is lower in Montana. Compounding the problem, 9 out of 10 high schools nationally do not even offer computer programming classes.

"We are just not graduating enough computer scientists in Montana," said Greg Gianforte, CodeMontana co-founder. "Montana State University and University of Montana combined graduated just 37 students in computer science this past spring for an estimated 400 available jobs statewide. Starting salaries for computer science graduates in Montana range from $45K to $85K. That is a great Montana wage."
Participants will access an engaging, self-paced online curriculum developed by two Computer Science graduates from Stanford University that will teach them the basics of software development. Participants will compete for $10,000 of prizes while learning how to program.

Interested students should sign up at the http://www.CodeMontana.org web site. Each student will have unlimited access to the on-line curriculum for 90 days after sign up. Prizes will be awarded monthly based on progress with the curriculum and the first 1,000 participants will receive a free CodeMontana tee shirt.

The Montana Progammer’s Association is providing volunteer on-line tutors to assist the participants. The program is completely privately funded for up to 1,000 participants and the associated prizes.

The CodeMontana program has received broad support from educators and business leaders across the state. The CodeMontana Advocacy Board includes:

* Jason Bigart, Wisetail

* Susan Carstensen, RightNow

* Kerri Cobb, Bozeman High School

* Dennis Dixon, Zoot Enterprises

* Greg Gianforte, Bozeman Technology Incubator

* Wayne Huyard, TEXbase

* Rob Irizarry, Startup Bozeman

* Bill Johnstone, DA Davidson

* Kirk Krappe, APTTUS

* Thomas Kurian, Oracle

* Cameron Lawrence, University of Montana

* Hunter Lloyd, Montana State University

* Jakki Mohr, University of Montana

* John Paxton, Montana State University

* Rob Ryan, Entrepreneur America

* Diane Smith, The New Rural

* Mike Sparr, Goomzee

* David Vap, Oracle

* Joe Walkuski, TEXbase

"Montana’s opportunity to participate in the high tech economy is unlimited if we provide our young people with education in computer science," said Rob Irizarry, CodeMontana co-founder. The reality is that not enough high schools students are enrolling in computer science programs in college, so CodeMontana brings high school students from across the state to introduce them to the exciting and important world of computer software development."

The goal of the program in its first year is to introduce 1,000 math and science savvy Montana students to computer science. High school students interested in signing up for the program should enroll at http://www.CodeMontana.org.