Part of Tech Movement initiative aimed at developing jobs and careers for the workforce of the future
Ridgeland, Miss., (October 29, 2018) – News media representatives are invited to attend C3, a regional coding challenge, today (Tuesday, Oct. 30) convened by C Spire, a Mississippi-based wireless, technology and broadband firm, and designed to encourage high school students to pursue a degree and career in information technology and computer science.
The day-long C3 program at the company’s Ridgeland headquarters will feature teams of up to four students each from 26 high schools across the state competing for scholarships and other tech-related prizes. Three previous competitions since March 2017 have featured teams from 62 high schools and over 260 students in 30 counties.
Students and an adviser from each school will use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to solve a fresh computer coding challenge during the day-long competition. C Spire has assigned employees with IT backgrounds and experience to help each team. Members of the top three teams will receive college scholarships.
Pepper, a four-foot tall humanoid robot from Softbank Robotics America with a tablet for a chest, also will be on hand interacting with students and other guests participating in the competition. Lobaki, a Clarksdale-based company that runs a virtual reality studio, will provide demonstrations during the challenge.
C3 can serve as an important first step to increase interest in computer science, according to C Spire CIO Carla Lewis. In 2016, only 16 students in the state took the AP computer science exam, but last year the number of students successfully completing the test grew to 105, according to Code.org, a computer science education advocacy group.
Lewis said it’s never too early to start preparing students for a technology-infused future. Research shows that by the time children in grades K-6 graduate from high school and college, 60 percent will work in jobs and professions that do not exist today.
The company-sponsored coding challenges and support for other public and private programs like the Base Camp Coding Academy and a recent partnership with Mississippi State University Research and Curriculum Unit’s Center for Cyber Education are designed to help C Spire deliver on its promise to help create and retain a 21st century technology workforce.
C3 is part of a broader C Spire Tech Movement initiative designed to leverage the company’s leadership and investments to move communities forward with technology. Other elements include massive deployment of broadband internet for homes and businesses and other leadership initiatives to drive innovation and development of a 21st century technology workforce. To learn more about the C Spire Tech Movement initiative, please visit www.cspire.com/techmvmt.
WHEN:
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
WHERE:
C Spire Corporate headquarters
1018 Highland Colony Parkway
Ridgeland, MS 39157
WHO:
- Hu Meena, CEO, C Spire
- Stephen Bye, President, C Spire
- Carla Lewis, CIO, C Spire
- High school students and advisers, up to 26 schools across the state
- Pepper, 4-foot tall humanoid robot from Softbank Robotics America
- Lobaki, Clarksdale-based virtual reality training program
About C Spire
C Spire provides a full suite of world-class, customer-inspired dedicated Internet, IP Voice, data, managed services, cloud services, value added resale and mobile communications to businesses and wireless, 1 Gigabit consumer Internet access and related home services for consumers. This news release and other announcements are available at www.cspire.com/news. For more information about C Spire, visit cspire.com or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/cspire or Twitter at twitter.com/cspire.
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