Support for K-12 Computer Science Exploration: Developing Tomorrow's Innovative Programmers

By Science Buddies on February 25, 2013 8:30 AM

Symantec commits continued funding to Science Buddies, allowing further expansion of the Science Buddies computer science area to help enable and inspire student computer science projects.

In honor of International Corporate Philanthropy Day (ICPD), Symantec Corporation today announced more than $1 Million in funding in support of STEM and literacy education. The official announcement details Symantec's support of Science Buddies, Teach for America, NPower, Room to Read, and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).

Symantec has been a sponsor of Science Buddies since 2007 and has provided core program support and enabled ongoing development of the Computer Science interest area at Science Buddies. Through the years, Symantec and Science Buddies have partnered to celebrate and encourage K-12 computer science exploration both through the creation of new Project Ideas and through visible recognition of students conducting science experiments presenting their projects at science fairs both on the community and national level. In 2009, the companies judged and issued "Clever Scientist Awards" at area science fairs. In 2010, they awarded the "Symantec Science Buddies Special Award in Computer Science" at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF). One of the young computer scientists singled out for a special award was Brittany Wenger, then a middle school student and aspiring computer scientist. Wenger went on to win the 2012 Google Science Fair with her computer science project.

Thanks to this year's pledge from Symantec, Science Buddies plans to prototype a new science kit to further facilitate student computer science exploration. Last year, Science Buddies introduced its first round of convenient, all-in-one-box science project kits and launched the Science Buddies Store. Continued support from Symantec allows potential expansion of the computer science area at Science Buddies to include a hands-on computer science project kit for use with a Science Buddies Project Idea or with other science and engineering activities.

"Symantec has been a terrific partner to Science Buddies," said Ken Hess, Science Buddies Founder & President. "Their generous support has enabled us to give hundreds of thousands of K-12 students the inspiration, tools, and guidance they need to engage in hands-on science and engineering. With the latest grant from Symantec, we will be developing our first-ever computer science kit to introduce the next generation to the power and fun of computer programming. We are thrilled to continue working with Symantec and salute their strong commitment to STEM education."

Learn more about today's announcement on the Symantec blog.