WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan recognized Meenakshi Dwaraka and Salome Castillo Valencia of Nashua as April’s Granite Staters of the Month. Meenakshi and Salome started a free coding class for local students.
Meenakshi and Salome, who are now both in high school, met in sixth grade and have both been interested in coding since they were young. Meenakshi was encouraged by her dad, who is a computer scientist, to develop digital skills, and found that she enjoyed competing in coding competitions. Salome learned how to build websites during the Covid-19 pandemic, and she even sells some of the websites that she creates. The girls noticed that there were not many opportunities to learn computer skills until high school, so they started a fee coding class for students in third grade through fifth grade.
Meenakshi and Salome teach the class at their local community center, and over the weeks attendance has grown. Students in the class learn block coding, basic robotics, and computer safety, giving students the opportunity to learn skills that will eventually help them compete in the 21st century economy. Meenakshi and Salome’s dedication to increasing access to computer skills is an excellent example of the Granite State spirit of sharing knowledge in order to empower others. Their commitment to helping students from all backgrounds prepare for the future – and have fun – is why Senator Hassan named them April’s Granite Staters of the Month.
Senator Hassan launched the “Granite Stater of the Month” initiative in 2017 to recognize outstanding New Hampshire citizens who go above and beyond to help their neighbors and make their communities stronger. To nominate a New Hampshire citizen to be a “Granite Stater of the Month,” constituents can complete the nomination form here.
To read Senator Hassan’s statement for the Congressional Record, see below.
I am honored to recognize Meenakshi Dwaraka and Salome Castillo Valencia of Nashua as April’s Granite Staters of the Month for their work to establish a free coding class for local elementary school students.
Both Meenakshi, 16, and Salome, 17, were interested in coding from a young age. Meenakshi’s dad, a computer scientist, first inspired her to develop digital skills, and she quickly realized that she enjoyed competing in coding competitions. Salome learned how to build websites and code during the Covid-19 pandemic, and has continued to improve her skills and even sell websites that she has created. The girls, who met in sixth grade, noticed that there were not many opportunities to learn computer skills until students entered high school, despite the increasing importance of the field. They decided to help fill this gap by starting a free coding class for students in third grade through fifth grade so that kids from all backgrounds could learn the basics of coding from a young age.
The class, which Meenakshi and Salome teach at their local community center in Nashua, has grown over the weeks. When they first started offering the class, they didn’t have very many students, but over time, they have seen an increase in attendance and interest. Students from different high schools in the area have also reached out to ask for help in starting their own classes and expanding the program. Students in the class learn block coding, basic robotics, and computer safety, giving students the opportunity to learn skills that will eventually help them compete in the 21st century economy.
Meenakshi and Salome’s dedication to increasing access to computer skills is an excellent example of the Granite State spirit of sharing knowledge in order to empower others. Their commitment to helping students from all backgrounds prepare for the future – and have fun– is why I am glad to name them April’s Granite Staters of the Month.
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