Girls Who Code group formed at Marian High

Girls Who Code, a national nonprofit group, is joining with Marian High School in Omaha to promote computer science as a field of study for female students.

According to the group, computer science and technology are the top industries for jobs, but only one in five computer science graduates are women.

The after-school club is free and open to every student at the all-girls school, as well as female sixth- through 12th-grade students from other schools.

The club meets in Marian’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) lab, where students learn graphic art, video game design, artificial intelligence, mobile development, cryptography and other technical skills. The lab gives students hands-on equipment, multiple display monitors and an environment that promotes collaboration.

The program is led by Sharon Genoways, STEM department chair. Students from other schools interested in attending should contact Genoways at sgenow@omahamarian.org for a schedule and directions.