The special event brought together state, industry, organization and educational leaders to recognize 50 students in grades 3 through 12 for their innovative “Coding for Good” projects, selected among more than 569 submissions from individuals and teams. This year’s statewide coding competition asked students to create applications designed to inspire health and wellness.

Each year, the Lt. Governor’s Computing Challenge reaches teachers and their students across the state with assistance from the Connecticut Department of Education, through partnerships with Infosys Foundation USA and ReadyCT, and through sponsors including this year’s presenting sponsor, Amazon.

As a leader in higher education and technology education in the state of Connecticut, Quinnipiac School of Computing and Engineering is working with partners like ReadyCT to help meet the state’s workforce challenges of tomorrow, said Assistant Dean for Student Experience and Career Development John Bau.

Quinnipiac hosted the ceremony and showcase for the first time this year due to its strong partnership with ReadyCT, Bau said.

“Quinnipiac has long been a partner of ReadyCT to help introduce school-age students to the fun of STEM-based careers. Being able to host the Computing Challenge Ceremony and Student Showcase helps Quinnipiac to cement its place as a higher education leader for Connecticut’s workforce development,” said Bau.

ReadyCT Deputy Director Sheryl McNamee said showcasing the students’ innovative work at the School of Computing and Engineering aligned with the forward-thinking, collaborative spirit of the Lt. Governor’s Computer Challenge and its supporters.

“An event like this, that is looking to elevate computer science education and computer science opportunity, takes a lot of thinkers. It takes a thought partnership; and that’s what we have with Quinnipiac University’s School of Computing and Engineering, with our state Department of Education, and with our sponsors who are making the investment because they understand computer science education is integral to the workforce they want,” said McNamee.

In a video message, Connecticut Commissioner of Education Charlene Russell-Tucker said the state faces a growing workforce demand in vital industries from healthcare to information technology, making student engagement in computer science and exploring technologies shaping the future more important than ever.

Speaking to students, parents, teachers and program partner and sponsor representatives in the Mount Carmel Auditorium on May 30, Bysiewicz thanked Quinnipiac for hosting the recognition ceremony and student showcase.

“We so appreciate your willingness to have the Computing Challenge Recognition event in your space; and we hope that many of the young people who are here today will one day enroll in the Quinnipiac School of Computing and Engineering. It’s a beautiful campus to study at,” said Bysiewicz.

Bysiewicz was pleased to share that this year’s challenge drew double the number of schools and student participants over the previous year.

“The students that you see here today are literally the cream of the crop, because they are 50 out of almost 1,000 students who participated, and for that we are so very proud of them,” Bysiewicz said. “I just want to encourage you to keep studying computer science and STEM fields. We need so many computer science professionals, and no matter what career you ultimately choose, computer science is going to be really important to your future.”

Kate Maloney, Executive Director of Infosys Foundation USA, congratulated the students for seizing the opportunity to take the Lt. Governor’s Computing Challenge.

“I’m hopeful that you all discovered something you didn’t think you were capable of by going through this whole experience,” said Maloney. “You not only coded for good, but maybe made new friends, or discovered an interest in a new subject. That’s what opportunity is all about, and there are people here that make all of this possible -- your parents, your teachers, organizations and companies who believe in you as the future of Connecticut.”

Amazon Head of Community Engagement for New England and Canada, Jerome Smith, said being the largest private employer in Connecticut creates the broader responsibility to support rising students, particularly in STEM fields.

“We are looking for individuals in these career fields of computer science, AI, and robotics to build the future,” Smith said. “So for us to give back to students who are actually interested in computer science and who are particularly looking to do good in the world, we think it is important to invest in all their work. Maybe one of you will write the next product for Amazon or build and code with us as we move into the future.”

In addition to attending the ceremony and presentation of recognition and awards in the auditorium, guests and students filled two levels of the School of Computing and Engineering as they explored learning spaces displaying the event’s project poster showcase. Students shared information about their innovative ideas on posters representing conceptual, prototype, and development projects.