LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson today announced the kick-off of the Governor’s All-Region and All-State Coding Competition during his stop at Little Rock’s Hall High School on his Computer Science Coding Tour. The competition will feature eight simultaneous regional competitions across the state. The top two teams from each regional event will receive an invitation to participate in the All-State Coding Competition.
In addition, executives from Verizon announced their plans to grant $40,000 of funding to the Arkansas Chamber of Commerce to sponsor the Governor’s All-Region and All-State Coding Competition. The competition will award a 529 college savings scholarship to members of each of the top three teams. Members of the team that places first will each receive a $2,000 scholarship award, while the second and third place teams will each receive scholarship awards of $1,000 and $500, respectively. The school that produces the competition’s winning team will also receive an award of up to $20,000.
Governor Hutchinson released the following statement:
“I am excited to launch the Governor’s All-Region and All-State Coding Competition. My computer science initiative has already given every high school student in the state access to valuable computer science and computer coding resources. This competition will help motivate our students to take full advantage of those resources.
“As more of our students elect to take coding and computer science classes every semester, this competition will inspire creativity and ingenuity in these young coders. I am delighted that Verizon has agreed to sponsor this coding competition.”
Krista Bourne, President of the South Central Market for Verizon, released the following statement:
“At Verizon, we recognize the link between engaging students with technology during their formative years and their future as innovators in a dynamic workforce. We are proud to support the Governor’s Coding Challenge and believe the skills acquired through the competition will be a gateway to a limitless future for Arkansas students.”
The Governor’s All-Region and All-State Competition will be open to students in grades 8-12 at public and private high schools. Homeschooled students of equivalent age will also be eligible to participate. The Department of Education will send out a Commissioner’s Memo on September 15 with further information including rules and registration details.
Under Governor Hutchinson’s leadership, Arkansas became the first state to mandate the offering of computer science courses in every high school in the state. Hutchinson is currently traveling the state on his Computer Coding Tour to promote increased enrollment in computer science courses in Arkansas high schools.
