From Chickens to Robots to Cybersecurity: Madeline's Tech Journey

I wasn’t always interested in technology and computer science; in fact, until I was in tenth grade I wanted to go into biology with a pre-vet focus! Hi! My name is Madeline Chairvolotti and I am currently a senior at Cedarville University studying computer science focusing in cyber operations and web design. Once I graduate I will start working with the Naval Information Warfare Center in cyber security. So how did I go from being a girl who wanted to be a veterinarian her whole life to getting ready to graduate and start working at the Navy while on a full ride cybersecurity scholarship?

When I was in high school my friend wanted to start a FIRST Tech Challenge robotics team. He needed another person so I joined it to try something new. I became the programmer for the team and slowly fell in love with programming. I was the programmer of the team for all four years of high school and decided that I wanted to do something relating to programming/computer science when I went to college.

Throughout my high school years I was very involved with 4-H (poultry, robotics, and shooting sports being my favorites), national history day, and several other organizations. While I was involved in 4-H I led several annual robotics clinics where I taught the basics of LEGO NXT and EV3 programming. I learned that I really enjoyed teaching robotics and other topics and wanted to find new outlets for that.

One of the main organizations that I was a part of was the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) Aspirations in Computing (AiC) Community. I heard about the Award for Aspirations in Computing from my robotics coach who heard about it from FIRST. I decided to apply for it and see what it was about. The first year I applied I received the Vermont/New Hampshire/Maine Runner-Up Award. I was very surprised that I even got recognized. This encouraged me to do even more and see how many people I could reach with technology teaching. I taught several more robotics clinics, including in local schools.

Throughout this time, I also attended four camps through the Governor’s Institute of Vermont, camps in robotics, hacking and cybersecurity, and information technology. I found through getting to try many different things that I love cybersecurity. One of the professors at the camp offered to help me start a CyberPatriot team, through which I could learn about and compete in cybersecurity competitions. I learned so much and decided with the help of that professor that I wanted to pursue cybersecurity as part of my major.

I applied for the Award for Aspirations in Computing a second time and I was a winner of the Vermont/New Hampshire/Maine award, and I applied for an AspireIT grant to run a summer day camp for girls to learn the basics of programming with Sphero robots. I received the grant and it taught me so much. I learned about budgeting, planning a curriculum, organization, leadership, and I learned that I really enjoy teaching others about programming.

The third time I applied for an Aspirations in Computing award, I was a winner for Vermont/New Hampshire/Maine as well as a national runner-up. This made me realize that what I was doing was impacting people and I could do really cool things.This encouraged me and I applied for a second grant, this time to teach 20-30 young girl scouts about electricity, programming, and circuitry. I learned a lot about organization and problem solving with this grant. In hindsight I’m very glad to have had problems with the program not exactly going how I wanted as I learned how to troubleshoot on the fly and come up with backup plans on the spot.

I also decided to apply for the Society of Women Engineer’s Next Generation Award for high school girls who were teaching technology and engineering related things in rural communities. I received this award and was flown to Austin, Texas to receive the award and so I could attend their national conference. I got to meet some awesome girls through this award, some of whom were also a part of NCWIT!

Since I’ve been at Cedarville University I have been involved in every cyber competition that my college offers. Since my freshman year, I have competed in the National Cyber League, Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition, Hivestorm, and I am a leader on the cyber awareness team. This year, my classmate and I started a Women in Cybersecurity chapter at Cedarville. NCWIT has prepared me to speak to others about the importance of women in computer science and cybersecurity and I’ve grown in my advocacy for more women to be in computer science and engineering since joining NCWIT. I’ve been involved with mentoring a high school team in CyberPatriot - that was pretty special to be able to give back to students by doing something that I love. I have also been a part of our SAE SuperMileage team since my freshman year, eventually leading the computer and electric team as well as the social media team. My sophomore year I applied for a Department of Defense cybersecurity scholarship and recieved it! It covers tuition during my junior and senior year as well as it gives me a stipend, an internship with a DoD company between my junior and senior year, and a guaranteed job once I graduate. I will be at the Naval Information Warfare Center - Atlantic and I am very excited about this.

Throughout my time in college I’ve completed three internships, all very different. The internships were as different as could be, one was a web design internship at a private company of about 20 people. The second was a security operations center internship at a Fortune 500 company of 8,000 people. The third was a cybersecurity internship with the government.

Through all of this, NCWIT has taught me a lot. I’ve learned a lot more than just technology skills. I’ve joined a network of wonderful women who lift each other up and encourage each other. It’s been a crazy journey, but NCWIT has been there all along. I’ve made some great friends through NCWIT, some of whom I’m still friends with now!

Find me on social media!
Instagram: @chairvhs
Facebook: @madeline.rose.chickens
Twitter: @chickengirl2000
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madeline-chairvolotti/