Local students participated in the Hour of Code, a nationwide initiative to introduce tens of millions of students to one hour of computer science and computer programming.

Sponsored by the Computer Science Education Week and Code.org, the Hour of Code began in 2011 as an attempt to teach students computer programming.

On Wednesday, students from 4th-12th grades at McKenzie High School created games, apps, and other small activities by writing their own code.

The school’s media specialist Laura Shell emphasized that the learning experience would help McKenzie’s students years down the road.

“Introducing and letting the kids understand what they are already doing at home on their tablets helps them explore further ideas dealing with apps and computer science,” she said.

Code.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access for students to computer science, especially young women and underrepresented minorities.

An equal opportunity was given to all students allowing over hundreds of different activities including themes from Star Wars, Moana, Frozen, Angry Birds, and more.

This organization provides the curriculum for K-12 computer science in the largest school districts in the United States. The Hour of Code campaign engages 10 percent of students from around the world providing classes in more than 45 different languages.

“This was our third year participating in the Hour of Code and it continues to build on itself,” she said.

“Each year the students become more and more excited as they go.”

Due to its success, the Hour of Code will likely continue to be a tradition for this Butler County school.