Make Computer Science Accessible!

As tech has become more prominent in our world today, it's hard to imagine that many communities still don't have access to a good computer science education. ANova aims to remedy that by closing the achievement gap in computer science education.

What is ANova?
ANova is a student organization dedicated to improving computer science education in under-resourced communities across the Bay Area. Our outreach and mentorship efforts strive to introduce students of all backgrounds to computer science.

Since our conception in Fall '15, our services have reached 20 schools and over 750 students, and our members spend more than 150 hours each week teaching our curriculum.

What do we do?
ANova partners with middle and high school teachers and administrators to develop curriculum catered individually for each classroom. Our members go on weekly visits to our partnered schools either to enrich an existing computer science class, or to teach a project-based afterschool program.

Every year, the club hosts ANova Hacks, a 24-hour hackathon for high school students. Over the course of the day, students will work in teams of four to design and code an innovative idea to solve real-world problems.

What are we raising money for?
Every year, ANova puts on a hackathon for high school students from underserved communities. Last year, we successfully organized our very first 24-hour overnight hackathon, and this year, we will continue to support under-resourced students through ANova Hacks. 

This is an older video, but captures the spirit of every ANova Hacks.


What is a hackathon?
A hackathon is rooted in the simple, but complex world of "creation".  During hackathons, teams come together to bring one of their own ideas into tangible reality using technology. Regardless of their interest in computer science, students are exposed to the wonders of technology and its impact on our world. Together, we can inspire the next generation of innovators to hack to new heights.



What is ANova Hacks?
ANova Hacks provides an opportunity for high school students to experience computer science outside of the classroom allows them to apply their skills and spread their ideas to the world through technology.  Last year, we invited fifty students from various under-resourced, low income high schools from around the Bay Area to participate in our first overnight hackathon, ANova Hacks 2018 at Covo SF.

Thanks to Facebook, we provided 75 Macbook Pros to each student and they were able to learn and apply topics ranging from web design, HTML, and CSS to hardware, college advice, and security. Participants then used what they learned to work in teams of up to four to create working games, websites, or products. They all left with an original creation that they could not only show friends and family, but also continue developing even after the end of the hackathon. We hope to empower our students through this hackathon so that they can transcend the limits of their circumstance and ignite a passion towards becoming an engineer in the future.  We hope that you can be a part of this journey and help us make this possible for our students!

Please find out more at www.anovahacks.org about team projects from ANova Hacks 2018.


Why are we different?
We recognize the importance of diversity, especially in a field as growing and impactful as computer science. The majority of our students come from urban areas where most students are not exposed to computer science or higher education. Through this hackathon, we hope to not only transform students’ ideas into prototypes, but to also ignite a passion for computer science. By presenting a firsthand look at virtual reality, gaming, information security, artificial intelligence and more, we provide students with an exciting look into the forefront of technological innovation.

ANova Hacks merges the fundamental computer science techniques taught at our weekly site visits, with workshops geared towards the construction of a project. Furthermore, workshops and panels about financial aid, college life, and the application process have inspired past students to pursue higher education and their passions, whether or not that be computer science. We offer students knowledge and advice from both successful, experienced industry leaders and mentorship from passionate UC Berkeley students. Most of all, ANova Hacks is about forming friendships with these students so that they have the resources they need to achieve their goals. 



Pictures of ANova Hacks 2018:




What will the money be used for?

Venue - $4000
Food and Drink - $1000

Other expenses:
Swag - $2000
Prizes - $1000
Travel Reimbursements - $600

The money will be managed by me and sent to Berkeley ANova which is an ASUC sponsored nonprofit.

Sponsors:




Your support will help make this possible. Please donate today!

To find out more about us, visit us at berkeleyanova.org  or facebook.com/BerkeleyANova

This campaign is part of the 2018 Clinton Global Initiative University Commitments Challenge.