Blocks snapped into place across bright laptop screens as students in classroom 1105 in the Innovation Center dove into logic puzzles, launching the newest wave of tech advocacy for students. The room was buzzing with students drawing out community outreach goals and working toward Scratch language certifications as the first step of the core multi-language curriculum.
Computer Engineers of the Next Generation (CENG) has established its newest high school chapter at Saint Francis High School. Moderated by Mr. Terry O’Donnell and co-founded by Shruti Dusankar (’28) and Saranya Duggirala (’29), this chapter works to certify Saint Francis students across a structured programming curriculum starting with Scratch, then JavaScript and Python, along with several other curricula spanning from Minecraft to AI/ML and from Roblox to cybersecurity. Operating for the past decade as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CENG helps certified high school volunteers join the broader organization where they can teach free year-round classes and organize a regional hackathon for underrepresented youth.
The chapter hosted its first meeting on Sept. 24 in collaboration with Girls Who Code. The partnership stemmed from a deeply shared mission between the organizations. They are dedicated to breaking down the systemic and financial barriers in technology to make sure underrepresented minorities, especially women and underprivileged youth, have access to computer science education.
Around a dozen student volunteers have already completed the initial onboarding cycle after the first chapter meeting, working toward earning official service hours while gaining formal certification through community workshops with CENG’s online academy. Beyond core classroom instruction, the Saint Francis chapter is planning campus guest speaker panels, bringing university researchers and experts to inspire broader student participation.
Saint Francis sits squarely within Silicon Valley, where students enjoy access to advanced coursework, modern technology, and exciting opportunities on campus, while under-resourced schools and students reside just a few miles away. This chapter bridges this gap by training Saint Francis students to be instructors who can inspire other students by redistributing their technical knowledge.
Looking ahead, the chapter aims to quickly expand its membership and community impact through future initiatives such as online and in-person Hour of Code sessions with nearby elementary and middle schools, neighboring campuses, and other CENG chapters. Overall, it creates a pipeline for Lancers who have mastered coding languages to step forward as mentors for the students who need it most, and ensures that innovation continues to extend beyond just the campus gates.
To get involved or register for upcoming CENG opportunities, please contact Shruti Dusankar at shrutidusankar@sfhs.com for more information or any questions.
