Coach Kathy Kemper
Our Co-founder & Sponsor
Coach Kemper founded the Institute for Education (IFE) 30 years ago with a mission to harness the power of data, innovation, and soft diplomacy in the global community. IFE has hosted over 1700 speakers including Supreme Court justices, Presidents, Nobel Laureates, Senators, professional athletes, a former Miss America, and more! The former US Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith told Coach Kemper, “We need more girls and minorities in STEM.” Coach Kemper agreed and set out to do just that. Through her contacts as a collegiate tennis coach, she reached out to various university presidents and deans to create a coding camp, and after receiving an immediate response from USC, she and Prof. Miller founded the CS@SC Camps. The dedication and passion exhibited by Coach Kemper has continued to make the CS@SC Camps a leader in educating all kids in computer science. When we asked Coach for some professional advice, she said, “Relationships in life and business are critical. You want your personal life and professional life to blend, not bleed. That paves the way for the magic of a work-life balance. Make a learning list! Reskilling is a lifelong habit. Embrace change and disruption!” The CS@SC Camps would not exist without Coach Kemper and IFE, and we are forever grateful for her support and guidance.
“The CS@SC Coding Camps provide K12 students with an opportunity to explore topics that are not typically covered in traditional curricula, specifically topics in computer science including stand-alone programming, web development, mobile app creation, and robotics.”
WHAT WE OFFER
The camps were founded as a joint effort of The Institute for Education and The USC Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science to provide students with an early education into computer science, engineering, and applied physical science. The camps are not designed to convince students to major in these fields when they reach college but rather to allow them to make an informed decision about different fields that may not receive as much exposure as ones they see on a daily basis. Studies have shown that students who are exposed to computer science and engineering fields at a young age are more likely to excel in academic fields such as science and mathematics.
Program Goals
- 💡 Help students understand the fundamentals of programming.
- 📚 Help students understand what it means to write a program and how to use basic programming constructs.
- 📖 Build student confidence in coding skills and knowledge.
- 💰 Develop student interest in coding.
- 🎓 Have access to high-quality Near-Peer Mentors in STEM.
- 💻 Understand the value and impact of computer science in today’s society.
The K-12 STEM Center develops strategies and builds initiatives to meet the needs of a diverse population, specifically in efforts to increase the representation of female students and African American/Black, Hispanic/LatinX, Native/Indigenous students in its STEM programs, such as CS@SC Coding Camps. Some of those efforts include outreach, mentorship, and scholarships. However, all STEM Center programs are open to all students in compliance with Federal and State law, as well as University policy.