Recently, some employees from DSA, Inc., a technology consulting and solutions company, volunteered their time to show 20 middle school girls how to create a website using WordPress and share their experience working in technology. The workshop, powered by TechGirlz TechShopz in a BoxTM, was held at the Boys & Girls Club of Harford County in Aberdeen Maryland and sponsored by DSA, Inc. and System Source.

Kathleen Kirk, Vice President of Strategic Solutions Group at DSA, kicked off the evening by inspiring and engaging the young girls with the many ways a technical degree can be used in the workplace. After this, the girls were eager to learn and build their own website.

Sarah Patrick, a high school student, led the workshop and credits her father, David Patrick, for her educational pursuits. “I have always had an interested in technology, especially with my dad being a computer programmer. I started to seriously consider pursuing technology as a career when I began attending the Science and Math Academy at Aberdeen High School,” she said.

The girls created a variety of websites, ranging from business services and social injustice platforms to sites about music and animals. “They were quite impressive with their eagerness to learn and how quickly they took to the medium,” said David, a developer and trainer at DSA, Inc. and System Source, who served as a lab support at the workshop.

As David reflected over the last decade of his professional life, he stated, “I wish I knew how important technology would be today and in the future, since the evolution of technology occurred very quickly as I grew up.” Tracey Schreiner, DSA, Inc. IT Training Coordinator, also served as a subject matter resource providing additional lab support during the workshop.

For the instructor and other volunteers, the most memorable part of the event was watching the girls create very unique and personal websites. Each girl was able to present her work to the other attendees and the passion and conviction was evident in what they built.

The DSA team is excited about this inaugural TechGirlz event and looks forward to bringing technology to more students in the future.

Want to bring technology to girls in your community? Learn how with a workshop powered by TechGirlz TechShopz in a Box™.