MAUMELLE, Ark. -- The Maumelle High School Coding Team has advanced to the All-State Coding Competition, which will take place May 1.
Clayton Boothe, Hana Lovett, and Toby Reid advanced from last monthās virtual All-Regioni competition, which included 100 teams. Seventeen teams from across the state have advanced to the 5th annual All-State Coding Competition.
āThe hard work began last year when this team attended their first Arkansas All-Region coding competition,ā said teacher Felicia Acord. āThese students consistently challenge themselves inside and outside of the classroom to become better coders and problem-solvers.ā
āCOVID changed almost everything, including this yearās regional coding competition, which was held virtually for the first time,ā said Governor Asa Hutchinson. āRegardless, competing off-site did not dampen the enthusiasm of the more than 100 teams that participated. All of these students are on a path to a bright future because of the work they have put into learning to code. Congratulations to the 17 teams that are advancing to the state competition in May.ā
Each member of the first-place team at the state competition will receive a $2,000 award that will be deposited into a 529 College Savings Plan. Each member of the second-place team will receive a $1,000 award deposited into a 529 College Savings Plan, with each member of the third-place team receiving a $500 award deposited into a 529 College Savings Plan. In addition, the schools that register/sponsor the teams placing first, second, and third will receive $10,000, $6,000, and $4,000, respectively, to support their computer science programs. The prizes and competition expenses are provided by a grant from Verizon to ARCodeKids.