2 August 2012 · noller, pycon, python, raspberry pi

I mentioned in my recent OSCON write-up that I had the privilege of announcing that this year's winner of the Frank Willison Memorial Award was Jesse Noller. The most spectacular contribution to his win was the amazing PyCon that he chaired with record results: over 2,200 delegates and an amazing program opening with dancing robots that, coming only ten years after PyCon took its first faltering steps, hit me quite emotionally.

Jesse is once again PyCon chair, and he has just announced the most amazing addition to next year's PyCon. Delegates will be able to sign up their over-12 kids for a short course, using pygame, to help them understand why their moms and dads are so crazy about Python. Not only will the workshop be free, each registered kid will be given a free Raspberry Pi computer complete with an operating system on an SD card.

I'm so enthusiastic about this I have already approached the organizers, Lynn Root and Katie Cunningham, to offer my services as a classroom assistant. I encourage you to do the same if you enjoy helping kids to learn.

The conference is still eight months away, people. Heaven only knows what other fabulous treats he has in store for us all. Go, Jesse.