NCWIT Selects 2025 AiC Educator Award Recipients

Full Color logo with text that reads NCWIT.org | Aspirations in Computing Educator Award
NCWIT proudly announces the 2025 Aspirations in Computing Educator Award recipients, honoring 121 educators from across the U.S., the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and Canada. Each year, U.S. educators (formal or informal), counselors, administrators, mentors, or other influencers who support their students’ computing-related passions are eligible to receive recognition for their efforts to promote computing and tech studies. This year, the awards include three National Educator Award Winners, 66 Affiliate Award Winners, and 52 Affiliate Award Honorable Mentions.


​National Educator Award Winners​
The National NCWIT Aspirations in Computing (AiC) Educator Award elevates several educators whose work exemplifies the best of the AiC Educator Award. The award identifies outstanding formal and informal educators who play a pivotal role in encouraging 9th through 12th grade students who are marginalized by gender to explore their interest in computing and technology. The award also recognizes these educators' efforts to widen participation in computing.

Since 2011, more than 500 educators have been recognized and have received more than $225,000 in professional development funding to improve their computing education skills. Now, NCWIT is pleased to add the following recipients to this exemplary roster:

Read their complete commendations below.
​

Dr. Ajayi Anwansedo


Photo of Dr. Ajayi Anwansedo
Dr. Ajayi Ekuase-Anwansedo is a dedicated advocate for increasing access to computer science and technology education, especially for youth and students. She is a certified project management professional, currently serving as a Postdoctoral Scholar and Project Lead for the $4.9 million NSF INCLUDES Collaborative Change Consortia: Association of Collaborative Communities Ensuring Equity in Youth STEM+C Success (ACCEYSS). In this role, she leverages collective impact strategies to engage community partners, policymakers, and the workforce in transforming the U.S. K-16 STEM+C education pipeline. Previously, she worked at IBM as a training and change management consultant and served as the coordinator of the inaugural Berkeley Lab Director’s Apprenticeship Program at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where she co-developed the Python curriculum alongside leading scientists to inspire and empower students to pursue STEM careers. Dr. Ajayi holds a BSc. in Computer Science, an MS in Business Information Systems, and a Ph.D. in Science and Math Education. She shares insights and resources on computing and technology education and careers through her platform, www.classroom2workforce.com. Her students have presented their work at various conferences, including the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA). She also serves as a community leader in ISTE, an award committee member in CSTA, and a volunteer for AnitaB. She worked with The Futures Fund Tech Academy to deliver tech-based programming for teens and young adults in Baton Rouge and volunteered with the East Baton Rouge Parish Library system to organize coding workshops for children and adults across various library locations. With her daughters, she introduced coding to students at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Baton Rouge and established a coding club at her children’s school, BASIS Baton Rouge. Currently, she sponsors the Coding, AI, and Quantum Computing (CAQ) Club at BASIS Pflugerville.

Dr. Tracy Nguyen

Photo of Dr. Tracy Nguyen
Dr. Tracy Nguyen’s journey is one of resilience, determination, and an unwavering passion for empowering women in STEM. Born in Vietnam, she and her family became refugees in 1975, overcoming immense challenges to rebuild their lives. With a deep love for learning and a drive to make a difference, she earned her B.S. in Biology from UC San Diego and a Doctor of Optometry from the Southern California College of Optometry (SCCO). Her advocacy for STEM began when her daughter joined SWENext in sixth grade, igniting a mission to expand opportunities for young women in engineering and computer science. Seeing firsthand the power of mentorship, Dr. Nguyen became a fierce advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM. Now, as Vice President of SWE San Diego, she plays a pivotal role in fostering community and access for underrepresented students. Beyond her leadership in SWE, Dr. Nguyen is a dedicated mentor and informal educator, guiding students through FIRST Robotics, SWENext Clubs, and Girl Scouts, with a focus on empowering those from underserved communities. Her commitment to broadening participation, sustaining impact, and demonstrating leadership has earned her the prestigious NCWIT AiC National Educator Award, recognizing her efforts to increase access to computing and technology for BIPOC and marginalized gender students. Her impact extends far beyond accolades, though she has been recognized with the SWE Spark and Engaged Advocate Awards, WE24 DEI&B Individual Recognition, and as one of the San Diego Business Journal’s Top 50 Women of Influence in Engineering (2022, 2023, 2024). Yet, for Dr. Nguyen, her greatest achievement isn’t in awards—it’s in the countless young women she has inspired to pursue STEM careers, breaking barriers and shaping a more diverse, inclusive, and innovative future.

Dr. Chinma Uche

Photo of Dr. Chinma Uche

Dr. Chinma Uche is a Mathematics and Computer Science teacher at CREC’s Academy of Aerospace and Engineering in Windsor, CT. In the early 2000s, Chinma witnessed inequity in access to Computer Science education and began working to advocate for and enable access to quality Computer Science education for all K-12 students. Chinma was a founding member of the Connecticut Computer Science Teachers Association, which became a chapter of the national Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) in 2009. She served as CTCSTA chapter President from 2009 to 2018, a member of the CSTA Board, and a member of the K-12 Standards Task Force, which defines learning objectives for computer science courses. Her contributions beyond leadership include supporting teachers in bringing computer science to their classrooms as an AP Computer Science Consultant, an AP Mentor, and a Code.org facilitator for CS A and CS Fundamentals. Outside of CTCSTA, Chinma serves her state in various capacities. Her advocacy efforts led to the formation of the Connecticut State Department of Education’s Computer Science Advisory Committee and the employment of a consultant who advises the department on Computer Science. As of 2023, she serves as the Connecticut Education Association representative in the Connecticut Commission for Educational Technology. Chinma’s influence at the national level through her work as co-creator of Mobile CSP, a project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) which has impacted many students across the world. What continues to lead Chinma is her commitment to and passion for expanding opportunities to all populations. Through her work with the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Chinma is able to support young women through an AAUW program called Tech Savvy. She runs an annual Women In STEM-C program during Computer Science Education Week. Chinma serves on the Sheff Movement Coalition Board, which advocates for quality integrated education for all students. She is also a co-lead of ECEP Connecticut, which is focused on broadening participation in computing “by identifying and addressing the policies, pathways, and practices in state education systems that are barriers to diverse student engagement and success.” Chinma holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mathematics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and a Ph.D. in Biomathematics from Imperial College, London. She is a certified teacher in Mathematics and also holds an Administrator license. At the university-level, Chinma was an Adjunct Professor in Computer Science at Quinnipiac University and an Adjunct Faculty of Education member at Sacred Heart University. Chinma’s current advocacy efforts in Connecticut include seeking resources to provide a diverse pathway, with many entry points, for K-12 students in Computer Science. Her efforts have been recognized through various awards. She is a 2015 CREC Teacher of the Year, a 2016 Connecticut Teacher of the Year semi-finalist, a Connecticut Technology Council's 2016 Women of Innovation Award recipient for Academic Innovation and Leadership, a 2018 Lawrence W. O’Toole Teacher Leadership Award recipient, and a multi-year NCWIT AiC Educator Award recipient. Outside of Computer Science advocacy, Chinma also serves her community as a United Methodist Church clergy in the New Room Parish of the Connecticut district.



2025 Regional Affiliate Educator Award Winners


  • Lisette Antigua, Stem Innovation Academy Of The Oranges; Bronx, New York
  • Aundrea Atwood-Starkey, Southern High School; Harwood, Maryland
  • Bryan Baxter, Lincoln East High School; Lincoln, Nebraska
  • Cameron Beatty, Royal Oak High School; Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • Jessica Brent, Eden Prairie High School; Eden Prairie, Minnesota
  • Valerie Briden, St. Mary Academy - Bay View; Rumford, Rhode Island
  • Rodger Brown, Granite Technical Institute; South Salt Lake, Utah
  • Matthew Cope, Galena High School; Reno, Nevada
  • Danelix Cordero, Centro Residencial De Oportunidades Educativas De Mayaguez; Boqueron, Puerto Rico
  • Josiah Davisson, Advanced Technologies Academy; Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Sarah Eckert, First Robotics; Davenport, Iowa
  • Lindsay Englade, Lavergne High School; Murfreesboro, Tennessee
  • Steve Errickson, Pine Creek High School; Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • David Esquivel, Northwest Early College High School; El Paso, Texas
  • Christina Faye, Sierra Vista High School; Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Steven Fink; Hoboken, New Jersey
  • Madeline Gerena Franco, Whitney M. Young Magnet High School; Chicago, Illinois
  • Marcus Grindstaff, St. Francis High School; Folsom, California
  • Ivanna Gutierrez, Phillip O. Berry Academy Of Technology; Charlotte, North Carolina
  • Daphane Hammer, Central High School; Tolono, Illinois
  • Amanda Harris, Middleton Middle School; Caldwell, Idaho
  • Sarah Hess, Pace High School; Pace, Florida
  • Jace Howell; Panguitch, Utah
  • Jason Hurd, Seckinger High School; Buford, Georgia
  • Paul Johnson; Escondido, California
  • Susan Jones, Midway High School; Waco, Texas
  • Jamie Lang, Glastonbury High School; Wethersfield, Connecticut
  • Eric Langevin, Essex High School; Essex Junction, Vermont
  • Nicolle Larson, Academy Of Arts, Careers And Technology; Reno, Nevada
  • Gina Lewis, Southside High School; Van Buren, Arkansas
  • Joanna Marcotte, Mascoma Valley Regional High School; Alexandria, New Hampshire
  • Melissa Mason; Houston, Texas
  • Scot McAtee, Twin Lakes Senior High School; Monticello, Indiana
  • Cindy Moshman-Southworth, Patchogue-Medford High School; Riverhead, New York
  • Dr. Theodore Newfield, Armwood High School; Seffner, Florida
  • Cam Ogletree, Madison Central High School; Madison, Mississippi
  • Dana Paz, Nova High School; Davie, Florida
  • Laura Peters, Somerville High School
  • Huy Pham, Westminster High School; Westminster, California
  • Ebrahim Randeree; Tallahassee, Florida
  • Nate Raynor, Mescalero Apache School; Mescalero, New Mexico
  • Debbie Reynolds, Commonwealth Connections Academy Cs; Homestead, Pennsylvania
  • Jeff Rhodes, North Royalton High School; North Royalton, Ohio
  • Brenda Richardson, Austin High School; Decatur, Alabama
  • Agustín Sarmiento, Maywood Center For Enriched Studies; Maywood, California
  • Andrew Seidel, John Fraser Secondary School; Mississauga, Ontario
  • April Schermann, Normal Community West High School; Normal, Illinois
  • Alison Schriro, Dreher High School; Columbia, South Carolina
  • Padmanabhan Seshaiyer, George Mason University; Fairfax, Virginia
  • Marianne Smith; Kalispell, Montana
  • Suzanne Speirs, Downingtown West High School; Downingtown, Pennsylvania
  • Denise Spence, Dunbar High School; Fort Myers, Florida
  • John Sperry, Lakeridge High School; Lake Oswego Oregon
  • Vinitha Subburaj, West Texas A&M University
  • Joseph Troxel, Paradise Valley High School; Phoenix, Arizona
  • Tyson Wagley, Citadel High School; Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
  • Christina Walker; Vancouver, British Columbia 
  • Mary Walz, Sauk Prairie High School; Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin
  • Stacy Ward, Grafton High School; Grafton, West Virginia
  • Dave Weber, Normal Community West High School; Normal, Illinois
  • Linda Whipker; Cary, North Carolina
  • Nisanti Wilmot, Oakwood Country School; Morgan Hill, California
  • Sarah Withee, Code Pa; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Andrew Woodbridge, Olympia High School; Olympia, Washington
  • Julie York, South Portland High School; Westbrook, Maine
  • Paul Zettler, Red River High School; Grand Forks, North Dakota


2025 Regional Affiliate Educator Honorable Mentions

  • Poonam Ahuja, North Creek High School; Bothell, Washington
  • Carey Anderson, Carmel High School; Carmel, Indiana
  • Nancy Argano-Rush, Viewpoint School
  • Alison Avery, Scarborough High School; Scarborough, Maine
  • Victoria Berkowitz, Mineola High School; Oceanside, New York
  • Zachary Blickensderfer, Menlo School; Atherton, California
  • Olivia Boman, Bethel High School; Waterbury, Connecticut
  • Cassandra Bryning, Five Star Online Academy; Westminster, Colorado
  • Anna Burns, Hobbs High School; Hobbs, New Mexico
  • Erin Duran, San Pasqual High School; Escondido, California
  • Sharon Genoways, Marian High School; Omaha, Nebraska
  • Michael Goddard, George Washington High School; Denver, Colorado
  • Andrew Griffin, Tea Area High School; Sioux Falls, South Dakota
  • Lisa Herron, Cypress Bay High School; Weston, Florida
  • Kelly Huddleston, Harpeth Hall School; Nashville, Tennessee
  • Jenessa Kaumans, Utah Tech Success Academy; Washington, Utah
  • John Kozicke, Greendale High School; Greendale, Wisconsin
  • Kyle Kuhlers, West High School; Urbana, Iowa
  • Kali Lambrou, Trinity Hall; Tinton Falls, New Jersey
  • Yvette Lee, Tucker High School; Richmond, Virginia
  • Yunyao Li; Grapevine, Texas
  • Lloyd Mann, Shadow Ridge High School; Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Robert McAdams, Rocklin High School; Roseville, California
  • Amy McMullin, Immokalee Technical Center; Naples, Florida
  • Jennifer Miller, Southeast Career Technical Academy; Henderson, Nevada
  • Tamas Molnar, Newton Country Day School; Newton, Massachusetts
  • Charles Moseley, Bartram Trail High School; St. Johns, Florida
  • Mark Ogden, Jordan Academy For Technology And Careers; West Jordan, Utah
  • Cathy Owen, Career Technical Education Center; Idaho Falls, Idaho
  • Laurel Pollard, Lebanon High School; Lebanon, New Hampshire
  • Krishnan Ranjani, Lincoln High School; Milwaukie, Oregon
  • Adam Riazi, Cabell Midland High School; Huntington, West Virginia
  • Greg Sauline, Ursuline High School; Youngstown, Ohio
  • Jodie Schmitt, Hortonville High School; Larsen, Wisconsin
  • Caroline Schwartz, Lane Technical High School; Chicago, Illinois
  • Stephanie Shrake, Avon Grove High School; West Grove, Pennsylvania
  • Marisa Shuman, The Young Women's Leadership School Of The Bronx; New York, New York
  • Suzanne Sloan, Hackettstown High School; Hackettstown, New Jersey
  • Houbing Herbert Song, University Of Maryland - Baltimore County; Baltimore, Maryland
  • Kristina Sorrells, Salem Academy; Winston-Salem, North Carolina
  • Batavia Sumlin, Paul Duke Stem High School; Hampton, Georgia
  • Rebecca Thomas, Sierra Vista High School; Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Erin Treder, Belleville High School; Belleville, Wisconsin
  • RoseAnn Vaughan, Vinal Technical High School; Middletown, Connecticut
  • Kyle Vu, Westminster High School; Westminster, California
  • Amy Wagner, Northside College Preparatory High School; Chicago, Illinois
  • Eric Walters, Marymount School Of New York; New York, New York
  • Joshua Welch, Woodstock Academy; Woodstock, Connecticut
  • Mary White; Augusta Preparatory Day School
  • Billie Wildman, Valley High School; Pine Grove, West Virginia
  • Josephine Winter, Austin Senior School; Austin, Minnesota
  • Kuan-Chuen Wu, Inspirit A.I. Inc.; Ames, Iowa

Awardees
AiC Stories
Where Are They Now
In The News
Lifetime Partner
Strategic Partners
Investment Partners