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INNOVATION MONTH Promoting Innovation Through Education by Bradley Skelton
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lthough Mississippi has garnered worldwide renown through musical greats like Elvis Presley and B.B. King, few people recognize Mississippi as a hotbed of modern innovation. Many do not realize the vast technological contribution Mississippi innovators have provided. However, Innovate Mississippi is working diligently to change that perception. Innovate Mississippi is a 501c3 organization originally formed as Mississippi Technology, Inc. in 1998 as a vehicle to cultivate innovation- and technology-based economic development in Mississippi. In 2012 the organization changed its name to Innovate Mississippi to better represent the company’s focus.
One such event was “The Hour of Coding.” The Hour of Coding is an initiative of Code.org, a non-profit organization founded in 2013 to promote K-12 computer science education. Code.org set forth a challenge to schools across the country for teachers and students to spend one hour of time per day learning about coding during Computer Science Education Week. Code.org developed a programming tool called “Scratch” for students to use during the Hour
Since its inception, Innovate Mississippi has collaborated with state and national companies, educational entities, and community leaders to broaden the educational opportunities and technological output of Mississippi’s technology-based companies. Sumesh Aurora, Vice President and Director of Strategic Biomass Solutions with Innovate Mississippi, worked with Governor Phil Bryant to make November the state’s official Innovation Month. Concerning his proclamation creating Innovation Month, Governor Bryant stated, “Mississippi’s innovative economy is helping drive economic development for our state. Most recently, the Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity named Mississippi fifth in the nation for business startup activity in 2013. This distinction would not be possible without the innovative people and businesses that make Mississippi great and drive innovative business growth.” Utilizing the proclamation, Innovate Mississippi partnered with the Mississippi Development Authority and Maris, West and Baker Advertising to develop a website dedicated to this endeavor, www.MSInnovationEconomy.com. This website provides information about events, sponsors, and schools participating in Innovation Month activities as well as articles about innovation in Mississippi. 4
CONNECTIONS Spring 2014
of Coding. Scratch is a user-friendly drag-and-drop format that enables students to learn basic coding techniques quickly and easily. In Mississippi, thirteen schools participated in the Hour of Coding, including Highland Elementary in Ridgeland. Worldwide participation in the Hour of Coding topped 18 million people. Randy Lynn, Vice President and Creative Director at Maris, West and Baker Advertising, was instrumental in bringing this event to Highland Elementary. Lynn and his wife Sissy, a Highland PTO board member, approached school officials