Sixty-three girls in grades 2-8 gathered at Davenport University’s W.A. Lettinga Grand Rapids Campus on March 29 for Girls Rock IT, a program that exposes girls to technology in a unique and fun way.

Girls Rock IT was a collaboration between Davenport’s College of Technology and the Michigan Council for Women in Technology (MCWT). The event, originally designed to help Girl Scouts earn their Coding for Good badges, welcomed all girls to engage in hands-on activities like app and game creation, fostering critical thinking, problem-solving and creativity in a supportive environment.

DuAnne Masselink, Computer Information Systems associate department chair at Davenport, said the event encourages girls to explore technology and exposes them to STEM-type concepts that they might not otherwise be exposed to. “The beauty of the Girls Rock IT program is that it utilizes free platforms so the girls can continue to explore coding on their own at home,” said Masselink.

While the girls explored coding concepts, parents and troop leaders attended an informative special session on cybersecurity and how to keep kids safe online.