The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Virtual ‘hackathon’ dedicated to the late Betty White
WOODBURY — Random Hacks of Kindness Junior plans to hold its first virtual hackathon of 2022 from 9 a.m. to noon on Monday in honor of the late actress Betty White on what would have been her 100th birthday.
Random Hacks of Kindness Junior, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that brings young people hands-on learning experiences where they apply technology to achieve social good.
Students get practical exposure to the potential of computer science and a chance to use it in a way that will benefit others in their community by creating a prototype smartphone app for a local charity or global cause, according to founder Patrice Gans.
Join Random Hacks of Kindness Junior and Kelly Stackpole from Rising Starr Horse Horse Rescue to honor Betty White’s legacy of supporting animal rights — as it pertains to animal health, conservation, rescue and wildlife rehabilitation.
The three-hour coding program will focus on designing and coding apps addressing the health and well being of horses. Children will experience first hand how to use technology to create positive change.
Rising Starr Horse Rescue saves, rehabilitates, retrains and rehomes abandoned, neglected or abused horses. By giving America's horses a second chance at life they give the community the chance to experience the love, patience, and compassion horses have for humans.
Monday’s program is open to students in grade 4-8. The event is open to the public and requires no prior coding experience.
Using Zoom, students will work in pairs with mentors to create prototype smartphone apps, using the online app block programming language, APP LAB from Code.org.
Random Hacks of Kindness Jr. Inc, was developed by Gans as an opportunity to empower and inspire youth to use technology for social good. Gans, a technology educator, organized the first Random Hacks of Kindness Jr. event at the Fraser Woods Montessori School in Newtown in May 2013. Since then close to 2000 students from across Connecticut have come together to create apps for nonprofits in their communities.
“Our events are geared to providing students with opportunities in computer programming in schools, after-school programs, and other settings,” Gans said. “Coding is more than a computer game,” she added. “Technology really has a purpose.”
Advance egistration of $18 is required.
Participants may register by going to RHoKJr’s website at rhokjr.org/event/hacking-for-betty-white/ .
For information, contact Patrice Gans at pbgans@rhokjr.org.