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ORCSGirls in the News

ORNL’s Thomas Proffen, mentee recognized by National Center for Women & Information Technology

Thomas Proffen, a neutron scattering scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and founder of Oak Ridge Computer Science Girls, was recognized with an award from the National Center for Women & Information Technology, or NCWIT. In addition, one of his students received a national honor from the organization.

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Who run the world? The Oak Ridge Computer Science Girls - TeknovationBy Shannon Smith, Teknovation Assistant Editor, PYA On any given Saturday morning, middle school girls across the country are waking up early to attend online computer science classes based in Oak Ridge. They’re at 10 a.m. local time but attract girls from every U.S. time zone. “That is seven in the morning in California. So we have girls getting up... Read More »

Environment Monitoring Camp RecapIn July 2022, ORCSGirls ran the Environment Monitoring Camp for the second time. At the camp, the girls learned how to take environmental re...

AI Robotics Camp RecapIt's a wrap. Twelve girls in grades 7-10 participated in our Smart Robots Camp held at the Blount County Public Library in Maryville, TN fr...

ORCSGirls TechPodzTechpodz is a unique opportunity for girls interested in technology to build friendships while learning tech skills and a chance for passionate tech enthusiasts to share their knowledge while building a sense of community. Thomas Proffen, the founder of Oak Ridge Computer Science Girls (ORCS Girls)

ORNL employees, UT-Battelle donate $900K+ to nonprofits - Oak Ridge TodayOak Ridge National Laboratory employees and the lab’s managing contractor UT-Battelle donated more than $900,000 to local nonprofit organizations in 2021. Most of the donations, almost $800,000, came from laboratory employees. UT-Battelle provided an additional $144,000 in corporate contributions, a press release said. That’s a total of $944,000 in donations. The contributions from ORNL’s employees […]

Press Release

October 22, 2021

Oak Ridge Computer Science Girls (ORCSGirls) is excited to welcome Alanna Hunsaker-Kosier, Ja’Wanda Grant and Brad Parish to its Board of Directors.

Read our press release here.

CoSpaces movie competitionDiscover the winning creations of the CoSpaces movie competition, an amazing online activity by the Oak Ridge Computer Science Girls’ club.

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COVID-19 forces ORNL researchers to take STEM education online

COVID-19 has upended nearly every aspect of our daily lives and forced us all to rethink how we can continue our work in a more physically isolated world .. Read the complete news release.

New Mexico Consortium: Summer Physics Camp Offers 21 Young Northern New Mexico Women Unique OpportunitySome of the young women in the camp enjoying listening to Madeline Whitacre (LANL), third row second from left, talking about the women’s contribution to the Manhattan Project at LANL. Photo Courte…

Computer science girls contest with CoSpaces EduA computer science girls club conducted a video game creation contest with CoSpaces Edu and shares their amazing creations

Press Release

March 16, 2020

Oak Ridge Computer Science Girls is offering online classes. Visit www.orcsgirls.org/online for more details. Read our press release here.

Press Release

March 12, 2020

In an abundance of caution, we have postponed the remaining events through the end of April. Visit orcsgirls.org/covid-19 for more details. Read our press release here.

The lowdown on AI: Robot Camp set for girls at Blount County Public LibraryA unique, hands-on opportunity for young people who want computer technology instruction that goes beyond lectures and hours sitting at a computer is now as close as the library.

MarchForSisterhood

The March for Sisterhood on October 11, 2019 was the first-ever global digital march, inviting girls around the world to stand up for what matters to them. Here are our ORCSGirls.

Press Release

September 22, 2019

ORCSGirls was named a “2019 TOP-RATED NONPROFIT” by GreatNonprofits. Read our press release here.

East TN teen uses programming, music skills to develop app that could save lives in the classroomKNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) – Thirteen-year-old Julianna Gallup is home schooled, but she still wanted to do something to curb the fears of parents and students surrounding school shootings. Befo…

Code Breakers Recap - TechGirlzRecord. Set. Women’s History Month became Girls Making History Month! An incredible 342 young women set the world record for the most number of girls coding together at the same time. 17 different cities in the US and 1 in Colombia, were part of the record. Check out the video recap of the day to …

Press Release

March 17, 2019

ORCSGirls joins the TechGirlz code breakers event to set world record for number of girls coding in celebration of Women’s History Month. Read our press release here.

Local Program Introducing Young Women To The World Of TechnologyThe largest consumer technology show is happening right now in Las Vegas. And this year, there’s more of a focus on involving women in the tech industry.Closer to home Here in East Tenne…

Particle Blog Talking IoT in the classroom with the Oak Ridge Computer Science Girls of East Tennessee –ORCSGirls taught middle school girls how to build their first IoT products with 25 Particle Photon Maker Kits from Makerspace Empowerment Program.

ORNL & the Team Behind the 'Artificial Intelligence: How Computers Learn' TechShop - TechGirlzWritten by volunteer Alison Perch Running a new TechShop topic is never a solo endeavor. It takes many volunteers to prepare the curriculum and share their expertise with middle school girls. Volunteers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in East Tennessee recognize that leading TechShopz is a team effort. In particular, the Women in Computing …

Summer class teaches girls power in codingThe group of 3rd 4th and 5th graders from green magnet academy are spending this week learning to code.

ORNL scientist teaches girls to codeSTEM careers are a man's world -- women only make up less than a quarter of jobs in science, technology, engineering and math, but there's a scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory who's trying to change that.

Celebrating 10,000 Girlz the Best Way Possible: Through TechShopz - TechGirlzWritten by volunteer Emily Supil This March, TechGirlz celebrated the milestone of teaching to 10,000 girls. Along with the announcement, TechGirlz ran 10 TechShopz across the country. I had the pleasure of participating in one of the workshops and attending the 10,000 Girlz Celebration and Volunteer Appreciation Party at Saxby’s Headquarters in Philadelphia. Days leading …

Y-12 FCU Gives Foundation presents two new grants - Oak Ridge Today Free Medical Clinic and Oak Ridge Computer Science (ORCS) Girls were the newest recipients of grants from Y-12 FCU Gives Foundation, a press release said. A check presentation ceremony was conducted at the Y-12 Federal Credit Union branch in Oak Ridge on Monday, August 7. Y-12 FCU Gives Foundation was established by Y-12 Federal …

Volunteer Spotlight: Thomas Proffen - TechGirlzThe start of ORCSGirls and the tremendous role TechGirlz played. Written by volunteer Alison Perch Growing up in Germany, Dr. Thomas Proffen had an early love of science and technology. He took advanced physics and math classes, and he loved playing with his first computer: a Sinclair ZX81, with only 1KB RAM. Proffen’s passion for …