Coding team named semifinalists in international challenge
TAYLOR POOTON, Makayla Davenport, and Isabelle Ashley were named semifinalists in the Technovation Challenge for their spelling app “Word Keys.” Word Keys will go up against apps created by girls from all over the world competing for a chance to attend the 2017 World Pitch Summit in Silicon Valley set for Aug. 7-11. (Photo courtesy of Marianne Smith)
Isabelle Ashley, Makayla Davenport and Taylor Pooton’s spelling app “Word Keys” has entered the world stage.
The trio, known as the “Gold Code Girls” found out Tuesday they were named semifinalists in the junior division of the Technovation Challenge. It is the group’s first time competing.
The fifth-graders created the app as part of a free, after-school group called Montana Code Girls where girls ages 9 through 19 can learn how to code. Montana Code Girls is a Missoula-based program of Big Sky Code Academy.
Ashley and Davenport are both home schooled and Pooton attends Cayuse Prairie School.
Reaching semifinalist status after going up against apps created by girls from around the U.S. was an unexpected surprise in the inaugural year of the Kalispell chapter, according to Marianne Smith. Smith leads Montana Code Girls in Kalispell with Russell Elementary technology teacher Liz Bernau as volunteer mentors.
“Since we didn’t have enough girls in the state of Montana to compete regionally we were put into a pool of all the teams in the U.S. that don’t have regional competitions. It really is a big deal,” Smith said.
The Gold Code Girls’ app is among 68 international teams competing in the junior division.
The Montana Code Girls began meeting in Kalispell last fall with members from around the valley. By January, the group had three teams who wanted to compete. Teams initially pitched ideas in April, got feedback, and polished the apps, business plans and technical demonstration videos before officially entering the competition.
“To make it this far,” Smith said pausing, “I thought — first off — can we get everything done in time?”
The girls pulled through.
Smith put it succinctly in an email to the Daily Inter Lake announcing Ashley’s, Davenport’s and Pooton’s semifinalist status: “YAHOOO Kalispell! The girls all rocked it, and we are all so proud of each of them!”
Two teams in six categories in both the junior (children ages 14 and younger) and senior (ages 15 and older) divisions will be selected as finalists in both to attend the 2017 World Pitch Summit in Silicon Valley in August.
For more information, visit technovationchallenge.org, www.mtcodegirls.org or email Smith at m.smith@troutmoon.com.
Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.