McKenzie River Community School is excited to invite families and community members to the First Annual Technology Showcase on Thursday, May 7, from 4:00–5:30 p.m.
This special event celebrates six years of growth, innovation, and student achievement through the McKenzie Coding Academy. Guests will have the opportunity to see student projects, hear presentations, and learn more about the unique K–12 computer science pathway being built at MRCS.
What began in the summer of 2020 as a vision to create sustainable computer science opportunities for students has grown into one of Oregon’s most exciting rural technology programs. In partnership with Connected Lane County, Mr. Culp designed a model where high school students would be trained to teach coding lessons to elementary students.
That idea became the Tech Ambassadors Program.
Today, Tech Ambassadors prepare lessons, support younger students, troubleshoot coding challenges, and serve as classroom leaders. Along the way, they gain valuable experience in leadership, communication, and mentoring.
This year’s Tech Ambassadors are:
Myra Dion – Senior (4 years)
Grace Weiss – Senior (4 years)
Liliana Jones – Junior (2 years)
Zyla Drake – Sophomore (2 years)
Cyrus Bennett – Freshman (2 years)
Owen Morgan – Freshman (1 year)
Visitors will also get to see projects from across the elementary grades, including:
Kindergarten through 2nd Grade coding foundations through Code.org
3rd Grade animated conversation programming projects
4th Grade Sphero Robot Oregon Trail simulations
5th Grade Scratch astronomy presentations
6th Grade Scratch biome projects
Event Schedule
4:00 p.m.
– Kickoff & Welcome
4:10 p.m.
– K–2 Student Presentations
4:45 p.m.
– Grades 3–6 Student Presentations
5:15 p.m.
– Q&A with Tech Ambassadors
The goal from the very beginning was to create a Technology Showcase where students could share what they had built. This year, that vision becomes a reality.
We invite the community to join us in celebrating the creativity, leadership, and accomplishments of McKenzie students.