Recruited in 1942 to develop and use a secret code based on the Navajo language, the Navajo Code Talkers’ courage and ingenuity saved thousands of American lives and helped turn the tide of the war in the Pacific. At the Battle of Iwo Jima, the Navajo Code Talkers delivered more than 800 encrypted messages relaying critical information about troop movements and field operations. In the words of 5th Marine Division signal officer Howard Connor, “were it not for the Navajos, the Marines would never have taken Iwo Jima.”
To recognize the contributions of the Navajo Code Talkers and continue their legacy, Intel is proud to support Science Foundation Arizona’s Code Talkers to Code Writers Initiative, recently announced by Arizona State Senator Carlyle Begay. The Code Talkers to Code Writers Initiative is a unique program designed to create pathways to computer science and engineering for Navajo students. Just like the Navajo Code Talkers engineered their own code and created a new way of communicating through the Navajo language, these students will learn to do the same through computer science and engineering.
Over the next three years, Intel will invest $250,000 per year at three Arizona high schools in the Navajo Nation: Chinle High School, Monument Valley High School and a third school that will be announced at a later date. Intel will work with Science Foundation Arizona to implement a comprehensive education transformation plan at these schools that includes:
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Each Tuesday is EducationTuesday here at Adafruit! Be sure to check out our posts about educators and all things STEM. Adafruit supports our educators and loves to spread the good word about educational STEM innovations!