CHOCTAW, Miss. —
The MS Coding Academies class at CCHS concluded on May 14, 2021. Shonda Wesley served as Teacher Aide and MS Coding Academies Facilitator, and the coding students were Jaylen Bell, Joe Bell, Jr., John Clemons, Keziah Frazier, Jacob Jim, Xative Nickey, Wynter Willis, and Madison Wilson.
Beginning in January 2021, these students received instruction in coding and applications. In addition, the Coding Academy gave them a chance to think about different career opportunities for their future. Their primary instruction was in C# (C Sharp) programming language. They also learned to use functions, statements, boolean, and looping.
Students learned how to correct their errors in Visual Studio. Visual Studio is used as a developer’s tool that makes app development easier for any platform and language. Next, they switched to PICO-8, a fantasy console for making, sharing, and playing tiny games and other computer programs. The class finished by creating a game that involved making a ball hit a paddle and go back and forth within the game without leaving the screen. They called this new game “Breakout.”
Shonda Wesley stated, “This program has kept me busy, but the students made this experience worth it. I think I would facilitate again if needed. This program has caused the students and me to build long lasting relationships.”
We want to thank the Mississippi Coding Academies, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Choctaw Tribal Schools, Office of Economic Development, Ben Hubbard, Dr. Sarah Lee, John Hendrix, Dr. Randy Grierson, Shonda Wesley, Andrew Stamps, and most of all, the students that participated in the first-ever MS Coding Academies cohort held in Choctaw, MS. Thank you for making the class a success! Hopefully, we will be seeing MCA again soon!
Mississippi Choctaws’ Economic Development Office Offers Virtual Tours to Prospective Partners
CHOCTAW, Mississippi -- As COVID-19 continues to hinder the in-person site selection process, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians' Office of Economic Development is responding by offering virtual tours online of its available sites and buildings. In its recently...
Choctaw Opportunity Zones Could Boom In 2021
CHOCTAW, Miss. -- The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians’ two Opportunity Zone designations are expected to garner attention in the coming months as a result of a projected big boost from the new administration in Washington. The MBCI was able to secure Opportunity...
MBCI Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for Mississippi Coding Academies TechShare Program
CHOCTAW, MS -- On January 19, 2021, the Mississippi Coding Academies (MCA) and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Office of Economic Development had a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the MCA TechShare program that will be taught at Choctaw. Choctaw is one...
Mississippi Choctaws’ Educational Efforts Boosted by New Markets Tax Credit
CHOCTAW, Mississippi -- The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians recently closed a New Markets Tax Credit transaction related to its two new early childhood education centers and an elementary school expansion -- resulting in a $2.3 million benefit to the Tribe. “We...
Mississippi Choctaws Installing Technology in Commercial Buildings to Neutralize Covid-19 Virus
CHOCTAW, Miss. -- The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is updating all of its commercial and industrial buildings with needlepoint bipolar ionization, a technology that will greatly enhance the air quality and provide neutralization against Covid-19. "In an...
Tribal Employee Becomes NCCER Certified as Instructor in HVAC
CHOCTAW, Miss. — Christopher Dearing lives in Philadelphia, MS with his family and currently is an employee of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. For the past three years, he has worked as an HVAC/R Technician for Choctaw Tribal Maintenance. He has over 10 years...
Mississippi Choctaws Receive 2.5 GHz Spectrum License to Assist in Broadband Access for Tribe
CHOCTAW, Miss. -- The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians recently was awarded a 2.5 GHz license by the Federal Communications Commission, which will be used to provide wireless broadband service in portions of the Bogue Chitto and Conehatta communities. This license...
Tribal Employee Becomes NCCER Certified as Instructor in Electrical and HVAC
CHOCTAW, Miss. -- Brian Robinson currently works for the tribe as the Utility Engineer/Tribal Energy Manager and lives in Carthage, MS with his family. He has been an entrepreneur, having owned and operated Robinson Engineering, and has been the tribe's General...
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Receives $450,000 Grant From W.K. Kellogg Foundation
CHOCTAW, Miss. -- The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians has been awarded a $450,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to assist the Tribe in building a community that is food-secure with equitable access to fresh and healthy foods. The grant will be used to...
John Hendrix
Director of Economic Development
601.650.1607
[email protected]
Office of Economic Development
375 Industrial Road | STE 2
Choctaw, MS 39350
Tribal Businesses
