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Area Students Emerge Victorious As Champs In Youth Coding League Spring Season

Courtesy of the Marquette Tech Institute
St. Vincent de Paul’s Nathan Harris, Sahil Khot and Matthew Austin emerge victorious on Wednesday night, taking home the championship prize in the ‘Technical Merit’ category. Their project, entitled “Cats,” combined game design with music.";s:3:"uri

On Wednesday, over 700 people gathered at the Youth Coding League’s All-Star Party to hear who would win championship prizes for the 2019 spring season.

Over 300 students across 17 schools in the region participated in the after-school program this semester, and players are evaluated based on code documentation, completing objectives, and more. The curriculum this season was based on the ideas of “Music and Sound”.

Top scorers in the regular season included Scott County Central’s Stevey Klingel in first place, Ellianna Britt in second, Mallory Burton and Skyler Wallace tying for third, and Delta Elementary’s Chariti coming in fourth.

Credit Courtesy of the Marquette Tech Institute
St. Paul Lutheran School’s Amelia Wilson, Faith Dreyer and Emily Sander pose for a picture after winning first in the ‘Community Favorite’ category with their interactive “Food Vacation” coding project.

Judges for the Technical Merit category included professional developers from throughout the region. In this category, St. Vincent de Paul’s Nathan Harris, Sahil Khot and Matthew Austin took home the Championship prize with their winning project, “Cats.” It combined game design with music. Scott County Central’s Leona Rodriguez, Lainey Glueck and Jamie Duck won second place with “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Gustavo Andrade and Grady Warren from Prodigy Leadership Academy placed third with “Music Creator.” Nell Holcomb’s John Dickerson, Mark Richey and Rylen Bell won fourth place with their project, “Jumper.”

Community Favorite prizes are awarded to the projects that received the most votes after making it through the playoff round. In this category, St. Paul Lutheran School in Jackson brought home first place with Amelia Wilson, Faith Dreyer and Emily Sander’s “Food Vacation Project,” an interactive project with artwork uploaded by the students. Second place went to Eagle Ridge’s Kaylee Mason and Gracen Thompson with their “Lilac Attack” project. Delta Elementary, new to the league this spring, won third place with Rylan and Bryce’s “CS is the Bomb”. Technical Merit champions “Cats” took fourth in the Community Favorite category.

During the awards ceremony, Director of Programs at the Marquette Tech District Foundation, Chris Carnell voiced his pride in everyone involved in YCL this season.

“I am so proud of everyone. Proud of the parents for supporting your kids in something so important in today’s world. Proud of the schools and coaches for stepping up and taking a lead on this,” said Carnell. “But most importantly, I’m so proud of you guys and gals. You all are true all-stars and rockstars to work so hard this semester.”

Credit Courtesy of the Marquette Tech Institute

Schools who participated this season included the 32nd Judicial Circuit, Central Middle School, Delta Elementary, Eagle Ridge Christian School, Kelso C7, Meadow Heights, Nell Holcomb, Oak Ridge, Prodigy Leadership Academy, Richland R-1, Scott County Central, Kelly Middle School, Sikeston’s 5th and 6th Grade Center, St. Henry in Charleston, St. Paul in Jackson, St. Vincent de Paul and Trinity Lutheran School.

To view winning projects, regular season scores, and more, visit: www.YouthCodingLeague.com.