High school students from Iowa and surrounding states head to Ames today to solve computer puzzles and learn about hi-tech jobs in Iowa State University’s fourth annual “Cy-Tech Challenge.” Director Justin Doyle explains the computer club on campus decided a Veishea float wasn’t the best way to get its message across, and came up with inventive activities. Computer engineering students use a program called “Lego MindStorm” to create self-driving cars programmed to follow commands. Programming, computer engineering and Management Information Systems each have demonstrations to show tomorrow’s students how their skills will be used in the business world. In addition to ISU, corporate sponsors make the Cy-Tech challenge possible. Mentors who work at Principal Financial, Microsoft, Motorola and other companies will talk about their jobs and what schooling it took. Friday morning sponsors will set up a mini “career fair” to tell the high schoolers more about learning computer skills for the workplace. ISU’s Cy-Tech Challenge April 20th will show today’s teenagers why every job of the future will involve computer skills. Cy-Tech Challenge Director Justin Doyle says kids going into college should keep in mind that even if they’re not “riding the crest” of technology in a job like engineer, programmer or M-I-S, they’ll use computers in every field, from teaching to truck driving. The visiting high schoolers will also get bus tours of campus to see the various academic areas.
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