Columbus nonprofit inspires girls to explore tech careers

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — A Columbus-based nonprofit is inspiring girls to enter tech fields at an early age.

Tech Corps — based on the north side of Columbus — hosted a special event on Friday. Elementary and middle school-aged girls who completed the organization’s summer program shared the results of their projects, which involved digital animation, app developments and coding.

Watch: Inspiring more girls to enter stem fields

The girls also had Q-and-A sessions with Google representatives, who answered career-related questions. Organizers said programs like this are vital.

The online networking group called Women Tech Network said women make up only 35% of employees in STEM fields in the U.S. In major tech companies like Facebook, Apple, Google and Microsoft, women are in the minority, especially in management.

Women account for just about 21% of students who earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science, and just 22% when it comes to a bachelor’s degree in engineering.

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