Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program (SIP)

Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program (SIP)

Funder: Software.org: the BSA Foundation

Program Type: Educational partnership with Girls Who Code

Geographic Scope: United States and international (ages 14-18)

Focus Areas:

Computer science and coding education

Gender diversity in STEM fields

Technical skills development

Career pathway exploration in technology

Mentorship from industry leaders

Eligibility:

US high school students in grades 9-11

International students ages 14-18

Preference for students from historically underrepresented backgrounds

Women and nonbinary students

Program Duration: Two weeks (typically held in July)

What's Included:

Hands-on coding instruction (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, UX design, game development)

Mentorship from women in STEM and industry leaders

Career exploration sessions and networking opportunities

Panel discussions on topics including AI, cybersecurity, digital transformation, and tech policy

Project-based learning and final showcase

Connection to role models in tech industry

Introduction to game design

Exposure to diverse career pathways in software and technology

Participants by Year:

2025: 60+ students from across the United States

2023: 61 high school students from 17 states (DC-based)

2022: Virtual classes for high schoolers across the country

2021: Expanded to virtual format to reach students nationwide

Key Partners & Guest Speakers:

Microsoft, Salesforce, Mastercard, Verizon, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic

SAP, IBM, Oracle, Adobe, Autodesk

US Senators and Representatives (Senator Amy Klobuchar, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan)

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy officials

BSA Foundation leadership and software industry executives

Contact: info@software.org

Background:

11th annual partnership as of 2025

Part of Software.org's commitment to closing the gender gap in technology

Women comprise only 35% of US STEM workforce

Women of color comprise less than 10% of STEM workforce

Only 30% of game design industry workers are women

Program addresses workforce diversity in STEM fields