Omaha Code School is ready for round two.
Applications opened Thursday for its second class, which will run from July 28 through Oct. 17. The first class of developers is set to finish in a month, May 16.
“We want to be a benefit to the community year round,” Code School instructor Sumeet Jain said. “We’re going to need a lot more than 13 graduates [to fill the need for developers in the community].”
More than 90 applicants applied for the 16 spots in the first iteration of the school, which was housed out of a space in Midtown Crossing. Jain hopes for more applicants and more diversity.
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The School still has $10,000 in scholarships that will be evenly divided among the next class’ female students. GitHub is sponsoring the scholarships. Jain hopes for a 50/50 gender breakdown.
“We hope we get a lot more women applying this time and we’re hoping the money from Github makes a big difference,” Jain said. “Affordability is the first concern for a lot of people.”
Jain also is working with local businesses to support other students through scholarships, too.
The School will follow the same general 12-week format and will combine intensive instruction with real-world projects to prepare students for the workforce, and draw on the support of mentors from the Omaha community. The program costs $7,500.
“We turn beginners into hirable web developers in 12 weeks,” the website says. “That means you learn much, much more than ‘how to code.’ You’ll learn how to think like a software engineer. And you will build real products using ultramodern technologies that you often teach yourself as you go, like you would in the workplace.”
The only different thing will be the location. Jain said they will be moving out of the Midtown Crossing retail space and are looking for another home in the Downtown or Midtown area.
Applications are open through June 13.
Students will present projects at 1 Million Cups
Current Omaha Code School Students will present their work at 1 Million Cups Omaha-Lincoln on May 7.
The format is to be determined, but it could involve three or four students demoing their projects in six-minute presentations or it could be set up as a type of science fair where attendees migrate from table to table.
“It’s good exposure for our students to meet people and employers who are potentially looking to hire,” Jain said. “1MC lends itself to helping the presenter, and with our students that’s obvious—they need to be hired and hopefully mentored by a senior developer who will help them continue to grow.”
Jain said it’s a good chance for students to break out of the bubble they have in class and have others critique their work so they can learn what they can do better.
“I think they’re going to impress,” Jain said.
Code School space to host art show
Since Code School has such a large space, they thought to reach out to artists in the community to display their art and curate an art show, which will be Friday, April 25 from 6-9 p.m.
“We love art and want to support it,” Jain said. “There is some crossover between art and tech—especially since the web has become more and more a medium for expression.”
Trés Johnson is curating the show and will include art from Brian Tait, Scott Blake, Rachel Scholer, Patty Talbert, Austin Martin and some of Johnson’s own work.
More information is available here and you can RSVP on Facebook.
