The USC Marshall School of Business will partner with Girls Who Code, a national nonprofit organization working to close the gender-gap in technology, in hosting a summer immersion program for local high school girls June 27-August 12, 2016.

Forty 10th and 11th-grade girls from area schools will attend the seven-week session, which will be held in the dedicated classroom space of USC Marshall’s Centers of Excellence, in the USC Building in downtown Los Angeles.

“We are so excited to host these bright young women in conjunction with Girls Who Code,” said Sandra Chrystal, vice dean for online education and professor of clinical management communications at USC Marshall.  “It is a superb opportunity for Marshall to partner with this extraordinary group and help introduce young students in our community to careers in technology and business.”

A reception will be held at the USC Building June 23 for girls and their families to meet their teachers and hosts.

The hard work starts the following Monday. Participants will work Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. for seven weeks learning basic programming fundamentals, web development and design, mobile development and robotics. They will work on laptop computers provided by the Cheryl Saban Self-Worth Foundation for Women and Girls, which is sponsoring the session. The Foundation will also provide nutritious lunches and snacks throughout the program.

The immersion program culminates with a final project the girls build and present. A graduation ceremony will be held for participants, their friends and families on Thursday, Aug. 11 from 6-8 p.m. in the Edison Auditorium in Hoffman Hall.