Schools
Nashua Teens Build Free Coding Class For Elementary Students
Meenakshi Dwaraka and Salome Castillo Valencia were named April's Granite Staters of the Month for expanding tech access in their community.
When Meenakshi Dwaraka and Salome Castillo Valencia realized local kids had to wait until high school to learn computer skills, they decided not to wait. The two Nashua high schoolers launched a free coding class for third through fifth graders at their local community center, offering young students a rare opportunity to explore block coding, robotics and online safety at an early age. What started as a small effort has grown each week, with rising attendance and interest from students — and even peers from other schools hoping to replicate their model.
Meenakshi, 16, and Salome, 17, share a long-standing passion for tech. Meenakshi was inspired by her father, a computer scientist, and quickly took to coding competitions. Salome first picked up web design during the pandemic and now builds and sells websites on her own. After meeting in sixth grade, they recognized the lack of early access to computer science and decided to take action — sharing their skills and making the field more approachable and inclusive for younger students in their community.
Their work earned them recognition from U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan, who named them April’s Granite Staters of the Month. It’s a fitting honor for two students who aren’t just learning to code — they’re helping others build futures in a digital world. Through their free class, Meenakshi and Salome are demonstrating that leadership can take many forms and that giving back often begins with recognizing what’s missing and stepping up to fill the gap.
The future is certainly looking bright in Nashua! If you know another Star Student making an impact, nominate them today to be featured on Patch!
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