-Editorial
Soroptimist International of El Centro announced that the Imperial Valley will serve as a new host site for the NASA International Space Apps Challenge, the world’s largest annual global hackathon. The local event is scheduled for October 4–5, 2025, and will bring together students, professionals, and community members to address real-world challenges using NASA’s open data.
Additionally, the organization is preparing its annual girls-only STEAM WARS & Beyond: Dream It, Be It Conference, scheduled for January 24, 2026. The event will provide high school girls with workshops, mentoring, and career exploration in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM), “This is a significant opportunity for Imperial Valley,” said Ivonne Sotomayor, president of Soroptimist International of El Centro. “Hosting the NASA Space Apps Challenge highlights our community globally, and the STEAM WARS Conference continues our commitment to empowering young women and girls.”
The club credits Co-President Jessie Villanueva for establishing ties with NASA, first through the NASA Engages Program, and now by expanding to host the Space Apps Challenge. The 48-hour hackathon encourages collaboration across multiple challenge categories, including space exploration, climate change, sustainable agriculture, and artificial intelligence. Participants of all ages are welcome, with El Centro serving as the only host city in the region.
Organizers are seeking mentors, volunteers, and sponsors to support the event. Alejandra Early will serve as the local lead, coordinating the hackathon and connecting participants with resources.
Soroptimist International of El Centro is part of Soroptimist International of the Americas, Inc®. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, Soroptimist (Soroptimist.org) provides women and girls with access to education and training through the work of volunteers in countries and territories throughout North America.
South America and the Pacific Rim. Its Dream Programs ensure women and girls have access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment.
The Live Your Dream: Education and Training Awards for Women® provide cash grants for head-of-household women seeking to improve their earning potential.
Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls® provides girls with tangible strategies to accomplish their future career goals. A 501(c)(3) organization that relies on charitable donations to support its programs, Soroptimist also powers LiveYourDream.org®—an online community that offers volunteer opportunities in support of women and girls.
The event is open to participants of all ages, and additional information is available at spaceappschallenge.org.
