Ohio Code Scholar
Connecting underrepresented Appalachian students to the technology and coding skills they need to compete in a global workforce – right where they are.
About the Program
The Ohio Code Scholar project connects young people, particularly underrepresented Appalachian students, to technology and coding skills necessary to be competitive in a global workforce. Emerging from the desire to have these students afforded the same learning opportunities as those from more affluent school districts, the Ohio Code Scholar project establishes a framework to bring this important skill training in a fun and engaging manner while meeting schools where they are in terms of resources, aptitudes, and interest.
The program launched in 2022 through its leading champion, then Representative and now Senator of Ohio's 17th District, Mr. Shane Wilkin, and funding was approved by the 134th General Assembly. Teaming up with Southern State Community College faculty member Dr. Joshua Montgomery, and Executive Director of Workforce Development Amy McClellan, the program has expanded from partnering with a few schools and reaching a couple hundred students to partnering with thirteen schools across the region and reaching more than 700 students.
Annually in May, Southern State hosts an Ohio Code Scholar Showcase in which students can demonstrate the projects they have worked on throughout the school year. The Showcase is set up in a competitive format to incentivize students to master their skills. The projects, ranging from the STEM MiniDome and battle bots to the Wearable Droid, are common among all schools and the Showcase is a culmination of the coding and troubleshooting skills the students have learned throughout the year. Every student is celebrated during this event.
Annual Showcase
Every May, students showcase their projects in a friendly competition that celebrates each student's learning journey. In year one, students built MiniDomes©. In year two, they designed and battled with custom-built robots. In year three, they created the interactive Wearable Droid©.
Year 3 - 2025
Year 2 - 2024
Year 1 - 2023
Curriculum
Each year, the Ohio Code Scholar program delivers a uniquely tailored STEM curriculum designed to engage students across Ohio in fun and engaging STEM experiences. Our custom-built curriculum evolves annually to stay aligned with current industry trends, educational standards, and the creative spirit of our participating schools. The projects work as an integrated full standing year long curiculum or as an after school club.
Students work hands-on with custom-designed projects such as Wearable Droids, MiniDomes, and RobotWars learning foundational skills in coding, electronics, problem-solving, and design thinking. The curriculum is developed in collaboration with K-12 educators, and the college professors to ensure it is accessible, challenging, and inspiring for grades 4-12.
We also provide college student interns, teacher support, lesson plans, classroom integration guides, and instructional videos to ensure schools can deliver the experience with confidence.
NO prior robotics or coding experience required.
Schools Involved
Publications
Explore our publications - such as Engaging Engineering Students in Experiential Learning through Robot Droids and K-12 Outreach - to see how the Ohio Code Scholar program shares best practices, research findings, and innovative outreach strategies.
Contact
Have questions or want to bring the Ohio Code Scholar experience to your school? Reach out to our team using the information below, and we'll be happy to help you get started or answer any questions you have.
Amy McClellan- Executive Director of Workforce Development
- 800.628.7722 x3510
- amcclellan@sscc.edu
Dr. Joshua Montgomery- Professor, Computer Science
- 800.628.7722 x2736
- jmontgomery@sscc.edu
