Brayden Hansen
During her computer science basics class, junior Paige Stenneche gets help from her teacher, Adam Schwaninger, to decode a secret message. Using the graph she was given, she matched together letters to create a secret message.
Gretna East is gearing up to launch its first chapter of the Computer Science Honor Society (CSHS) this October, offering those with a passion for computer science the opportunity to give back to the community.
“The National Computer Science Teachers Association started the Computer Science Honors Society a couple of years ago, and I’ve been wanting to add one since,” club sponsor and computer science teacher Kimberly Ingraham-Beck said. “I proposed the idea of adding the club last Spring, and the School Board approved it.”
The CSHS serves as an organization for those who demonstrate academic excellence and a passion for computer science. Similar to the National Honor Society, the CSHS has three main pillars: equity, service and excellence. These pillars are central to the CSHS’s mission and aim to spark interest in computer science among younger students.
Students interested in joining the chapter should pay attention to when the application Google Form is posted on the GEHS daily announcements slideshow. The application consists of a computer science portfolio, peer and teacher recommendations, a proposal for a future project and a short video submission.
“This club will give students who have worked hard in their computer science classes a place to be recognized and celebrated, while also encouraging them to grow beyond the classroom,” Ingraham-Beck said. “A big part of the CS Honor Society is volunteering and giving back.”
Potential volunteer activities include promoting computer science by helping the middle schoolers with projects and hosting an Hour of Code activity for younger students.
“I love computer science, and I would love to inspire others to pursue it,” senior Madeline Cooley said. “I’m really looking forward to going to some of the elementary or middle schools to help kids learn about computer science.”
Inspiration to add the club to East came after Ingraham-Beck attended a computer science conference this summer.
“They showcased several schools and their CS honors societies,” she said. “I was blown away by the amazing things high schoolers are doing around the country, and I want Gretna East to add to that.”
With Lincoln East being the only other chapter in the state, GEHS is at the forefront of expanding this opportunity to other schools in the area.
“I would love to be a trend-setter for the other schools across the state,” Ingraham-Beck said. “There is a new graduation requirement for every single high schooler across the state to have taken a computer science class, so now that every high school is teaching computer science, I think more schools will jump on this.”