theGrio’s 100: Zora Ball, 7-year-old mobile app programmer

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Who is Zora Ball?

At the young age of 7, Zora Ball stunned the computer programming world when she created a full version of a mobile application video game. Incredibly, she built her app in the Bootstrap programming language and presented the product at “Bootstrap Expo” hosted by the University of Pennsylvania. When naysayers challenged her by asking her to reconfigure her app on the spot, she certainly showed them by handily completing the task.

Why is Zora Ball in theGrio’s 100?

This student at Philadelphia’s Harambee Institute of Science and Technology Center Charter School showed a clarity of thought and technical expertise that is an inspiration to all. What’s more, Zora is proof of the success of the Harambee school charter program.

Harambee is where Ball learned the Bootstrap programming language through the after-school program STEMnasium Learning Academy.

The STEMnasium program is 48 weeks and also teaches young students Mandarin Chinese.

“I am proud of all my students,” said Tariq Al-Nasir, science teacher and founder of the STEMnasium program.  ”Their dedication to this program is phenomenal, and they come to class every Saturday, including holiday breaks,” Al-Nasir told the Philadelphia Tribune.

What’s next for Zora Ball?

This master of the Bootstrap programming language has an unlimited future. Online gaming journalists have noted that with the knowledge she has already demonstrated, she’ll be a superstar in the programming world.