Growing up, Reagan High School senior Varsha Shashishekar was inspired watching billionaire genius Tony Stark build high-tech gadgets in the Marvel Comics movies, and seeing the droid R2-D2 solve all sorts of problems in Star Wars films.
Shashishekar said such sci-fi stories made her feel like technology can be used to build practically anything. She followed this fascination into middle school, where she had the opportunity to learn how to code.
“Coding opened up a world of doors for me, and I was drawn to the idea that with just a few lines of code, I could bring my own ideas to life,” said Shashishekar.
In 2023, Shashishekar used her coding skills and passion for technology to launch PyGirls, a nonprofit organization that encourages 4th-12th grade girls to explore science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) studies.
Shashishekar recalled first engaging other students interested in STEM at North East ISD’s Design and Technology Academy, a magnet program, where she found a group of friends equally excited about building and problem-solving.
“Working together to design and program robots made me realize that the magic of STEM wasn’t just in the technology itself, but also in the collaborative spirit that drives innovation forward,” Shashishekar said.
But there’s a gender gap in STEM fields, Shashishekar said, and that’s something she wants PyGirls to address.
“I remember moments in school when I was one of the few girls in a coding class or robotics team, and I realized how important it is to have representation and support,” Shashishekar said.
Since rolling out PyGirls, Shashishekar, her board members and team of 40-plus volunteers have used the organization’s digital presence to distribute blogs and newsletters, interview STEM students and professionals, organize workshops, summer camps and hackathons — all designed to urge young girls to pursue computer science and related fields.
PyGirls’ social media channels also promote the history of women in STEM careers and share statistics about women in STEM.
According to Shashishekar, PyGirls has had its share of ups and downs.
“Volunteer recruitment and outreach were tough at times, but the rewards have been more than worth it,” she said. “The feedback has been incredible. We’ve been able to help so many girls take their first steps into computer science, and seeing their excitement and growth has been so fulfilling.”
While PyGirls encourages girls to join its board and volunteer team, the nonprofit has an advisory board that includes Rita Mitra, cybersecurity professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, and Turquoise Richardson, a doctoral candidate studying digital forensics at UTSA.
Richardson introduced Mitra to PyGirls after meeting Shashishekar at a collaboration event with the Women in Technology San Antonio chapter. Shashishekar expressed interest in collaborating with the UTSA student chapter of Women in Cybersecurity; Mitra is the faculty advisor of the student chapter, whose members later appeared on a PyGirls podcast.
“This nonprofit is passionately focused on bringing diversity into STEM fields by mentoring students in their organization and, importantly, organizing outreach to elementary and middle school students as well,” Mitra said. “We are inspired by PyGirls to do more, be more and give more to cultivate a STEM community that consists of a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and viewpoints.”
Shashishekar said PyGirls seeks to increase collaboration with local schools, and strengthen the nonprofit’s mentorship program to make STEM even more accessible for underrepresented groups.
According to Shashishekar, collaborating with businesses and organizations active in San Antonio’s startup and tech scene could benefit PyGirls and the community.
“San Antonio’s tech scene has grown so much, and it’s so exciting to see local businesses, schools and organizations boosting girls in STEM,” Shashishekar said. “Still, there’s more we can do. Expanding access to scholarships, transportation and free STEM programs would ensure inclusivity, while public events like hackathons could make STEM more visible and exciting, especially for our younger audiences.”
Shashishekar does not yet have a college in mind, but she plans to major in electrical engineering with a focus on robotics. She also hopes to eventually found her own start-up that focuses on using robotics to help others and support communities.
“I’ll be taking PyGirls with me every step of the way,” she said.
