None

<ul><li>“We all need to roll up our sleeves and do something to achieve equity in the workplace. In order to do that, you have to hitch your wagon to the right strategies.” // The Minnesota Aspirations in Computing Community and its coordinator, Russell Fraenkel, were profiled in <a href="https://tech.mn/news/2019/11/02/mn-aspirations-in-computing-empowers-girls-in-tech/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this TECHdotMN article</a>.</li><li>“I get to work with people every day to make things better.” // In <a href="https://news.engineering.iastate.edu/2019/11/04/inspiring-young-women-to-pursue-stem-careers/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this Iowa State University profile</a>, Engineer and AiC Community Member Erin Mitchell talks about why she’s so passionate about making sure younger girls have role models in the tech world, from serving as CFO of Reinvented Magazine to dressing up for elementary school kids at the STEM Princess Ball.&nbsp;</li><li>“If we just show middle schoolers what coding is all about and give them a little push, more would be interested.” // AiC Community Member Nicole Chen is passionate about helping other students discover the joy of coding. Learn about her numerous initiatives in <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2019/11/07/cta-apex-awards-nicole-chen.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this profile</a>.</li><li>AiC Community Member Joy Buolamwini is one of four women profiled in <a href="https://www.essence.com/feature/these-black-women-are-fighting-for-justice-in-a-world-of-biased-algorithms/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this feature</a> on Black women technologists who are working to uncover and correct the biases built into the algorithms that impact our daily lives.</li><li>“I am very grateful to be a part of such a diverse and accomplished group of women in technology, and I look forward to continuing to encourage other women and minorities to pursue careers in computer science.” // <a href="https://www.itbusiness.ca/press-release/2-steming-up-students-win-the-can-ncwit-award-for-aspiration-in-computing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">This article</a> features Jada Chang and Arianne Ghislaine Rull, two of the high school students who were honored this month with the first-ever Canadian Award for AiC!</li><li>“I am proud to say that our work in this space has seen an increased movement in the number of women and minorities entering the tech workforce. However, my job is far from done…” // AiC Las Vegas Affiliate Coordinator Snehal Bhakta was honored with the VEGAS INC Top Tech Awards Lifetime Achievement Award. Find all the details in <a href="https://vegasinc.lasvegassun.com/business/2019/nov/21/top-tech-awards-lifetime-achievement-snehal-bhakta/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this article</a>.</li></ul>

AiC Members - In the News (November 2019)

<ul><li>AiC Community Member Alexis Bunnell was named one of twenty-five recipients of the Target Women in Science and Technology EPIC Awards, which recognize high school students for their dedication to science, technology, engineering, and math; and for demonstrating engagement, passion, innovation, and curiosity within these fields. Get the details <a href="https://www.swnewsmedia.com/savage_pacer/news/education/school_briefs/burnsville-high-school-student-wins-target-stem-award/article_129984ad-db28-5dc8-827b-214105b69a4b.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</li><li>“Having one foot in both art and tech makes me stronger in both worlds. Some people would see it as being uncertain of what I want, but it’s the thing that makes me unique and powerful.” // Meet #NCWITAiC Community Member Swetha Prabakaran in this @Wogrammer profile: <a href="https://medium.com/wogrammer/dancing-in-the-studio-and-in-the-halls-of-microsoft-8b382475fa" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://wogrammer.org/stories/sprabakaran</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>AiC Community Members Madelyn Tavarez, Erin Mitchell, Caroline Choi, and Daniela Markazi have a lot of wisdom to share when it comes to embracing your personal voice and presenting your ideas to the world. <a href="https://medium.com/wogrammer/speaking-up-owning-it-d9fa47a732dc" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">This Wogrammer feature</a> highlights their diverse experiences.</li><li>"I've had my fair share of boundaries and stigmas that I had to actively break. And I couldn't have done it without the support of my all-girl team.” // AiC Community Member Shreya Nallapati, in her keynote at the American Heart Association's "Bring STEM To Life" event, discussed the technology she is developing to detect signs of potential mass shootings and stop them before they can occur.</li><li>“We really wanted to make this app a real thing that users can use and get some amount of help from.” // AiC Community Member Anjali Donthi was part of a team of five high school women that placed third in the Minnesota Cup business startup competition. Get the full story <a href="https://kttc.com/news/minnesota-news/2019/10/22/rochester-students-create-prize-winning-mental-health-app/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>AiC Community Member Amelia Irvin is bringing her program, “Robots on the Run,” to the Ragsdale YMCA in Jamestown, North Carolina with the help of an AspireIT grant. Get to know Amelia, and learn about her STEM journey in <a href="https://yesweekly.com/local-high-school-students-brings-robotics-opportunities-to-others-at-the-ragsdale-ymca/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this feature</a>.</li><li>“Too many women rely too little on their intuition because they think they don’t know enough, they think they’re not experienced or capable enough so they don’t trust themselves. I think people should value and have confidence in themselves.” // <a href="https://medium.com/wogrammer/finding-her-balance-d20131595856" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">This Wogrammer profile</a> highlights AiC Community Member Ananya Cleetus’ mental health advocacy, as well as her journey to career success.</li></ul>

AiC Members - In the News (October 2019)

<ul><li>“Seeing one of my favorite educators after 10 years was extremely heartwarming! I developed my first memories of using technology in his classroom as a child. Now, as the AspireIT Leader, I taught third-graders lessons relating to specific cybersecurity topics for each day of the week.” // In this <a href="https://csteachers.org/Stories/finding-her-voice-in-the-world-of-computing-samina%E2%80%99s-journey" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CSTA profile</a>, 2018 NCWIT Virginia Affiliate Award for AiC Recipient<a href="https://www.aspirations.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> </a>Samina Mondal reflects on how being a part of the AiC Community has impacted her educational journey.</li><li>AiC Community Member Arushi Agarwal was a featured speaker at the Private Sector Forum luncheon during the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit. Learn more about the Summit <a href="https://www.unglobalcompact.org/take-action/events/1701-private-sector-forum-2019#featured-speakers-and-participants" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</li><li>Educator and AiC Community Member Elaine Griggs was honored with the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Teaching Excellence Award. Learn about her accomplishments in <a href="https://pembroke.wickedlocal.com/news/20190914/pembroke-high-school-teacher-receives-national-educators-award" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this article</a>.</li></ul>

AiC Members - In the News (September 2019)

<h2>NCWIT Aspirations in Computing (AiC) is pleased to announce that October 11, 2021&nbsp;will be&nbsp;NCWIT AiC Awardee Day.</h2>
	
	This event gives #NCWITAiC Award recipients an opportunity to share how being recognized has impacted their lives and to encourage others to apply. It’s also a chance for NCWIT to raise visibility for the thousands of AiC Community members who are revolutionizing the face of technology.
	
	<h4>Who Can Participate<img src="https://ncwit-aspirations-service-stage-public.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/awardeedayblog_groupphoto.png" style="float: right" alt="Group Photo"></h4>
	
	We welcome participation from all past recipients of the <a href="https://www.aspirations.org/award-programs/apply-for-an-award" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">three AiC awards</a>: the Award for AiC, the NCWIT Collegiate Award, and the AiC Educator Award. This includes all award designations at the National and Regional Affiliate levels (Winner, Honorable Mention, Rising Star, Certificate of Distinction, etc.).
	
	<h4>How to Participate</h4>
	
	<img src="https://ncwit-aspirations-service-stage-public.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/awardeedayblog_socialmedia.png" style="float: right" alt="Social Media Icons">
	
	Here are some ways to participate on NCWIT AiC Awardee Day, using the official hashtags #AiCAwardeeDay and #AiCMeansToMe, on social media:&nbsp;
	
	<ul>
		
		<li>Post a picture of yourself with your award on Instagram.</li>
		
		<li>Add the NCWIT AiC Awardee Day frame to your profile picture on Facebook. (To add the frame to your profile picture on Facebook, just click the camera icon on your profile picture, and select "Add Frame." In the search box, type "NCWIT AiC Awardee Day," select the correct frame, and hit save.)</li>
		
		<li>Tag a friend, and <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc4ocuy9zyBGdDoYDhJR_1Az0KG1Js0ixJJ6O9ndV-AbRpifA/viewform" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">encourage them to apply</a>.</li>
		
		<li>Join the day-long conversation on Twitter and Instagram (follow @NCWITAiC for prompts).</li>
		
		<li>Post a short written or video story about how receiving an award, or membership into the AiC Community in general, has benefitted you.</li>
	
	</ul>
	
	You in? <a href="https://forms.gle/EB9yH3F1GgKjtaAo7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pledge to post</a>.

NCWIT AiC Awardee Day

AspireIT Program Gets Kids Engaged through Programming for a Cause

<ul><li>“We are generally at our best when we are all helping each other,” U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire, told participants in an AspireIT-supported app coding class taught by AiC Community Members Leah Marville and Sara Fung. Find out what the students were learning in <a href="https://manchesterinklink.com/girl-powered-coding-camp-and-appdevelopher-dreams/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this article</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>“Because I have experienced the gender inequality in STEM first hand, I want to be a role model for younger kids who feel like they do not have a voice.” // Get to know AiC Community Member Alyssa Shah in this Women Who Reign <a href="https://medium.com/@ReigningIt/women-who-reign-alyssa-shah-463bf65081e7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">profile</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>“Technology is the future, it’s going to be in everything.” // #NCWITAiC Community Member Lucinda Quintal and her friend Chloe Beittel started their own coding camp to give middle school girls an encouraging environment to explore programming. Get the scoop <a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/08/06/meet-the-east-bay-girls-taking-on-techs-gender-gap/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>AiC Community Member and FRobotics Team President Courtney Sheridan has had a busy summer! She and her teammates revamped their robot; snagged first place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s Steel City Showdown; and hosted outreach events to get kids excited about tech. Read about their recent win, and see what’s next for the team, <a href="https://triblive.com/local/murrysville/franklin-regional-robotics-team-takes-first-place-at-steel-city-showdown-competition/?fbclid=IwAR0O39uRpjoj8haTfZfhveTeIai60WUIupArI0Bzb4GGav-yGG8_ta0r-v4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</li><li>AiC Community Member Arial Saultz was featured by Wogrammer in an Instagram profile this month. Go <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B0887FnH3MT/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a> to see some of the brands she’s worked with since she started pursuing a Computer Science degree in college at age 14!</li><li>AiC Community Member Anjali Chadha grew up thinking about how technology could help her entrepreneur parents, and others in her community, be more successful. Learn more about Anjali’s tech journey in <a href="https://www.wave3.com/2019/08/17/teen-who-founded-local-nonprofit-heads-mit/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this profile</a>.</li><li>Two community members from Merrill, Wisconsin got a shout-out <a href="http://merrillfotonews.com/2019/08/17/mhs-student-and-teacher-win-wisconsin-ncwit-award-for-aspirations-in-computing/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://www.wjjq.com/storydetails/20190822091831/merrill_educator_student_receive_awards_for_women_in_technology/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a> for the Wisconsin Affiliate Awards for AiC that they received earlier this year.</li><li>“The biggest thing I have learned this summer was understanding the bigger picture by seeing how each team and role fits into the creation of the final product.” // Read about three AiC Community members’ internships with Land O’Lakes <a href="https://itconnect.workoutloud.com/Blog/k12-educators/summer-2019-internship-highlights-lol" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</li></ul>

AiC Members - In the News (August 2019)

<ul><li>“I really want to increase awareness about tech and show girls it’s not all just coding... There’s art, there’s engineering, there’s building.” // See how AiC Community Member Paige Burns is helping middle school girls explore computing with a grant from AspireIT in <a href="https://www.dailycamera.com/2019/07/09/high-school-students-teaching-technology-class/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this article</a>.</li><li>“We want them to think of that space differently, so that not only are they leaders but they’re innovators in that space.” // In <a href="https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/austin/news/2019/07/11/summer-camp-empowers-young-women-of-color#" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this Spectrum News video report</a>, check out the stop-motion animations that participants in the Latinitas coding camp are creating with support from AiC Community Member Sylvia Butanda and AspireIT.&nbsp;</li><li>The college application process can be daunting, especially for first-generation college students and those from disadvantaged groups. That’s why AiC Community Member Omika Suryawanshi started The Admit List, an app that matches high school students with current college students who act as mentors. Learn more in <a href="https://www.theridgefieldpress.com/news/article/The-Admit-List-makes-college-apps-easier-for-14085015.php" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this feature</a>.</li><li>Congratulations to AiC Community Members Zoie Keys, Colleen Miller, and Lauren Charles, who were part of a team that recently took third place for the state of Arkansas in the Girls Go CyberStart competition! Read all about it <a href="https://bit.ly/2XIjzD4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</li></ul>

AiC Members - In the News (July 2019)

<img src="https://wpassets.ncwit.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/30151828/InnovatorToInnovator_Logo-01.png" alt="Innovator" style="float: left;">Apple and NCWIT present a series of personal essays and stories of innovation, as told by NCWIT Aspirations in Computing (AiC) Community members by way of conversations with Apple executives. Below is the fifth edition of “Innovator to Innovator,” where AiC Community Member Anne Li talked with to Apple Senior Director of Worldwide Developer Marketing Esther Hare and four women entrepreneurs (Kim Azzarelli, Jhanvi Shriram, Ketaki Shriram, and Kyuhee Keogh) who participated in Apple’s <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2019/01/apple-entrepreneur-camp-kicks-off-as-app-developer-earnings-hit-new-record/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Entrepreneur Camp</a> about creating inclusive work environments, utilizing diversity to make a positive impact on innovation, finding strength in overcoming obstacles, and more.
	
	&nbsp;
	
	As a mobile app developer, attending the <a href="https://www.apple.com/apple-events/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2019 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC)</a> was inspiring, especially as a WWDC scholar. Alongside fellow NCWIT Aspirations in Computing (AiC) Community Members 
		Kayla Kasprak, Nithi Narayanan, Jothi Ramaswamy, and Ariana Sokolov, I had the opportunity to interview Apple Senior Director of Worldwide Developer Marketing Esther Hare and four women entrepreneurs who double as an author, professor, CEO, CTO, and a UX Designer, and who also participated in Apple’s 
		<a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2019/01/apple-entrepreneur-camp-kicks-off-as-app-developer-earnings-hit-new-record/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Entrepreneur Camp</a>. We discussed everything from promoting inclusion in the workplace to overcoming barriers. Here are the highlights.
	
	<div align="center"><img src="https://wpassets.ncwit.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/31165324/InnovatorToInnovator_Graphics_E5_GroupPhoto.png" alt="WWDC18" ></div>
	
	<img src="https://wpassets.ncwit.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/10223845/InnovatorToInnovator_LightBulb.png" alt="LightBulb" style="float: right;">Creating a team environment that fosters diversity and inclusion is a process that starts “at the top of the funnel in recruiting,” says Jhanvi Shriram, CEO of Krikey — an Augmented Reality (AR) mobile gaming application that enables users to play and share videos featuring 3D AR games that interact with the real world. “We want to make sure that we’re looking at a diverse pool because the funnel only gets smaller. And, if we don’t start with enough diversity at the top, we’re not going to have it when we get down to actually hiring.” This approach has resulted in a startup team comprised of 48 percent women!&nbsp;
	
	Team activities also form a large part of Krikey’s culture; according to Kyuhee Keogh, UX Designer at Krikey, employees are encouraged to interact with people across teams. As an example, Ketaki brings up the Krikey Award (which is “like the Oscars but way better”), a peer-nominated award given once a week.
	
	Hearing Kyuhee and Ketaki talk about Krikey’s team environment reminds me of my own experiences on my school’s programming team. Over the course of the year, we’ve developed both as a group and individually, due in part to our positive and open-minded dynamic. We’ve strengthened our teamwork too, allowing us to exchange more ideas and efficiently develop solutions under pressure during competitions.
	
	Esther Hare also offered her perspective on hiring as the Senior Director of Worldwide Developer Marketing at Apple, cautioning, “It’s very easy when you’re hiring to get drawn to somebody” that’s ‘like you.’ But, “the more diverse a team becomes, the more we end up looking for someone that’s different. And, that’s really the one thing that makes the team grow and be better.”
	
	<img src="https://wpassets.ncwit.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/10223921/InnovatorToInnovator_Graphics_Quote1.png" alt="Anne Quote1" style="float: right;">I recall attending a lecture by Dr. Fei-Fei Li during the Stanford AI4All 2017 Program who presented similar insights on how diverse teams impact technology development for the better. To put it bluntly, technology often embodies the biases of its creators. But, by involving people of different backgrounds, we can better ensure the apps, games, and robots that we design best reflect the variety of humanity with positive impacts.
	
	Every journey has its obstacles, but every obstacle is an opportunity for growth. When asked if she would change any aspect of her journey in computer science, Kim Azzarelli, Co-Founder of Seneca Women, described her earliest experiences in tech as somewhat of a shock. But, while “internally it was very hard” for her, Kim believes that “there’s something...to learn [in] everything that happens to you.” As it happens, those hardships inspired her to advocate for women in tech.
	
	The same has been true for many of my experiences in tech – recognition of the gender gap in artificial intelligence was part of the reason I decided to co-found Allgirlithm with two other Stanford AI4All alumni. It is an organization dedicated to making artificial intelligence education more widely accessible to women and underrepresented minorities. (Fun fact: <a href="https://allgirlithm.weebly.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Allgirlithm</a> is a pun on “algorithm,” incorporating “all,” which embodies the organization’s mission of encouraging everyone, especially girls, to try computing.) Since established two years ago, Allgirlithm has steadily expanded its reach through local chapters and workshops, and to date has impacted students in 15 states and five countries outside of the U.S.
	
	<img src="https://wpassets.ncwit.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/10224006/InnovatorToInnovator_PuzzlePiece.png" alt="PuzzlePieces" style="float: right;">A sense of solidarity was one of the most immediately striking elements of this roundtable discussion. Though we all took different paths and presented unique perspectives, our experiences as women in tech brought us together. Most importantly, however, we each had something to contribute and something to take away from the discussion, whether it was inspiration, advice, a shared excitement about the future of artificial intelligence and augmented reality, or a greater appreciation for the women-in-tech community.
	&nbsp;
	<hr>
	
	<h4>About Anne and AiC</h4><img src="https://ncwit-aspirations-service-stage-public.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/innovatortoinnovator_graphics_e5_photoweb.png" alt="Anne Photo" style="float: right;">Anne Li is a rising high school senior from Little Rock, Arkansas. She first became interested in computer science towards the end of middle school, when she and two friends developed a medical helper desktop app as part of a national, all-girls Computer Science competition; she later ventured into mobile app development, gaining recognition in the Congressional App Challenge. One of her first iOS apps, an allergen checker, was recently published to the App Store, and she is currently working on her second: a trip-planning tool. Aside from app development, Anne is involved in competitive programming — she is a member of her school’s CS team, which recently won a statewide programming contest. And, she develops educational AI materials for Allgirlithm, the tech organization that she co-founded.
	
	 Anne is a 2018 National Award for AiC honorable mention, a 2018 Arkansas Affiliate Award winner, a 2017 Arkansas Affiliate Award winner, and a member of the NCWIT AiC Community — an expansive network of more than 11,500 technical women who receive engagement, visibility, and encouragement for their computing-related interests and achievements from peers, volunteers, and NCWIT Alliance member organizations.
	
	&nbsp;
	
	AiC is supported by Apple’s lifetime partnership and commitment to change the public perception of who creates technology.
	
	&nbsp;

Innovator to Innovator: Apple Senior Director, Women Entrepreneurs, and High School #WWDC19 Scholar Anne Li Find Solidarity in Discussing Inclusion in Tech

<ul><li>In her “FemSTEM: Intro to Computer Science!” AspireIT program, AiC Community Member Shuba Prasadh and her friends taught middle school girls how to combine computer science with their other passions, including subjects like biology, art, and business. Learn more in <a href="https://parsippanyfocus.com/2019/06/01/stem-program-for-parsippany-middle-school-girls/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this article</a>.</li><li>“When I first started coding I just did it because it was fun for me. Then I realized that I am impacting the world in so many ways.” // Get to know National #NCWITAiC19 Award Winner Amiyah Hunter in <a href="https://itconnect.workoutloud.com/Blog/k12-educators/where-are-they-now-amiyah-hunter" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this feature</a>.</li><li>Franklin Regional Senior High School in Murrysville, Pennsylvania was excited to host AiC Community Member Nicole Baldy’s Females Embrace Awesome Technology camp. See how the camp got started <a href="https://triblive.com/local/murrysville/franklin-regional-will-host-technology-camp-for-girls/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>“I decided to go after everything I was afraid of.” // Congratulations to #NCWITAiC Community Member Naomi Benenson on being named one of Central Jersey’s Top 10 Academic All-Stars of 2019! Get the details <a href="https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/education/in-our-schools/2019/06/09/meet-central-jerseys-2019-academic-all-stars/1189977001/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</li><li>AiC Community Members Ariana Sokolov and Anne Li are featured in <a href="https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/06/234155/teen-app-creators-apple-wwdc" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this article</a> on young women coders at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference who are creating social change by developing innovative apps.&nbsp;</li><li>Get a glimpse behind the scenes at the 2019 Kentucky NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing celebration in <a href="http://kgsc.org/2019/05/2019-aspirations-in-computing-awards-announced/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this feature</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>“These young robotic rock stars are smart, confident, and possess extraordinary communication skills.” // AiC Community Member Aparna Rajesh is among those featured in <a href="http://www.towntopics.com/wordpress/2019/06/19/for-all-girl-robotics-team-its-not-just-about-building-robots/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this article</a> about all-girl robotics teams in Princeton, New Jersey.</li><li>With a little help from her friends, AiC Community Member Emily Jin organized AIHacks, Southern California’s first all-female hackathon. Read about the winning projects <a href="https://www.dailynews.com/2019/06/17/a-north-hollywood-high-school-seniors-all-girl-hackathon-aimed-to-empower-her-peers/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</li><li>Congratulations to #NCWITAiC Community Member Astra Burke on wrapping up a successful #AspireIT coding camp for elementary school girls! <a href="https://www.chattanoogan.com/2019/6/24/392417/GPS-Student-Astra-Burke-Receives-Grant.aspx" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Go here</a> to read the details.</li></ul>

AiC Members - In the News (June 2019)

<ul><li>“Her class is not a place where students sit quietly pecking away at keyboards, but rather a place where kids innovate, think, and explore.” // 2019 Arkansas Affiliate AiC Educator Award Recipient Karma Turner was named the first-ever Arkansas Computer Science Educator of the Year. Read all about it <a href="http://www.hotsr.com/news/2019/may/03/turner-top-computer-science-educator-20/?news" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>. Congratulations, Karma!</li><li>What’s it like to attend an #NCWITAiC Affiliate Awards celebration? Get a glimpse of the recent New Hampshire event in <a href="https://manchesterinklink.com/growing-community-of-women-in-tech-you-belong-here/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this feature</a>.</li><li>“Computer science is changing how we solve problems. However, without the lived experiences of female voices in the field, and especially those of women of color, we are missing out on opportunities to create inclusive technology applications derived from diverse perspectives and approaches.” // Find out what drives AiC Educator Award Recipient Mehreen Butt in <a href="https://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/tn/2019/05/13/this-tennessee-educator-wants-to-build-the-future-of-computer-science-in-nashville-especially-for-students-of-color/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this profile</a>.</li><li>AiC Community Member Annie Ostojic will represent the field of Science on the Indiana Governor’s STEM Team, along with three other high school students. Get the scoop <a href="http://thestatehousefile.com/four-indiana-students-receive-governors-stem-team-honors/38939/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://www.nwitimes.com/news/education/munster-lake-central-students-named-to-governor-s-stem-team/article_1fb6e19f-571f-51cc-a598-b34d55270b1f.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</li><li>“My strength in math and childhood hobby of playing computer games instigated my curiosity in coding. However, I did not actively pursue learning computer programming until my teenage years due to my fear of failure.” // In an award-winning essay, AiC Community Member Bethany Hsiao explored the systemic barriers to women’s participation in computing - and what’s needed to overcome them. Learn more <a href="https://www.roanoke.com/news/education/stem-passion-earns-bhs-student-state-award/article_5003a690-59f5-5607-ac8b-3405c41da268.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</li><li>AiC Community Member Autumn Routt was one of 38 students to be named a Jefferson Scholar, an award that comes with a full scholarship to the University of Virginia, along with numerous other enrichment opportunities. <a href="https://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/news/communities/crescent_city/article_0619ea5a-7cca-11e9-afc6-5f53f12e5934.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">This story</a> has the details.</li></ul>May ShoutoutsWhen high school and college women get recognized for their achievements in STEM, it can help younger girls envision themselves following a similar path. That’s just one reason why we love seeing AiC Community members in the news! This month, we spotted these members making headlines across the nation: <a href="https://www.noozhawk.com/article/santa_barbara_high_computer_science_academy_posts_awards" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ella Onishuk and Joy Patterson</a>; <a href="http://youarecurrent.com/2019/05/19/carmel-in-brief-may-21-2019/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Isha Ponugoti</a>; <a href="https://www.portagelife.com/community/education/73316-portage-township-schools-update-may-17-2019" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sanja Kirova</a>; <a href="http://www.newsbug.info/monticello_herald_journal/news/local/three-twin-lakes-students-earn-national-computing-awards/article_a13d1162-6d34-5b2b-a57d-fb17026c9307.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">three community members from Twin Lakes, Indiana</a>; and <a href="https://www.monroecopost.com/news/20190521/titan-trio-honored-for-aspirations-in-computing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">three community members from Webster, New York</a>.

AiC Members - In the News (May 2019)

<ul><li>In the AspireIT Smart Code of Life camp, AiC Community Member Ambica Ramchandra teaches middle school girls about the connections between neuroscience, app development, entrepreneurship, and the Internet of Things. Get a glimpse behind the scenes of this program in <a href="https://carolinianuncg.com/2019/04/10/greensboro-early-college-student-creates-stem-camp-for-young-girls/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this feature</a>.</li><li>AiC Community Member Johnneisha White was honored as an Emerging Student Leader for her work as president of Trinity University Women in Computing and as a supportive RA for first-year college students. <a href="https://www.trinitonian.com/leadership-spotlight-johnneisha-white/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">This story</a> has all the details. Congratulations, Johnneisha!</li><li>From designing an app that tells users which stores accept food stamps to studying ways to integrate universal design into computer science curriculum, AiC Community Member Victoria Chávez is passionate about using technology to make the world more accessible for all. Find out why her interest in computing made her a teenage rebel in <a href="https://medium.com/wogrammer/rebel-with-code-and-a-cause-23d81cd6761f" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this article</a>.</li><li>For AiC Community Member Nicole Williams, persistence pays off: she’s leaving high school with a robust portfolio and several tech clients. Now she’s working on “an app to help people with executive dysfunction caused by mental illness to keep track of their daily tasks, show their daily achievements and to congratulate them along the way.” Get to know Nicole in <a href="https://www.seeleylake.com/story/2019/04/18/news/sshs-senior-recognized-for-computing-achievements/4712.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this profile</a>!</li><li>Expanding access to computing education for students throughout rural Montana is one of 2019 #NCWITAiC National Educator Award Recipient Buffy Smith’s passions. Learn more about this inspirational teacher and her many contributions <a href="https://helenair.com/news/local/helena-high-teacher-to-be-honored-at-national-computer-science/article_f1695464-d007-5f3e-b7b3-8b937232accc.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</li></ul>April ShoutoutsAs the end of the school year gets closer, many of our community members are being honored for their achievements in awards ceremonies across the nation. We love seeing both students and educators from the Aspirations in Computing Community getting recognition, and we’re celebrating right along with you! Spotted in the news this month: <a href="https://lancasteronline.com/news/schools/warwick-senior-wins-aspirations-in-computing-award/article_f4cbd86e-54e0-11e9-8475-73c077b9de36.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mickayla Harris</a>; <a href="http://www.hotsr.com/news/2019/apr/03/thumbs-column-20190403/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Karma Turner</a>; <a href="https://ravallirepublic.com/news/local/article_c69c5f86-367e-5782-967d-504dde3cf60b.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jossie Baggett</a>; <a href="https://www.tapinto.net/towns/morristown/articles/kinnelon-s-caroline-balick-selected-for-ncwit-aspirations-in-computing-award" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Caroline Balick</a>; <a href="https://www.dailyinterlake.com/local_news/20190410/flathead_high_senior_recognized_for_tech_work" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Diane Lipka</a>; <a href="https://www.swoknews.com/local/chambers-first-state-student-receive-computing-award" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hope Chambers</a>; <a href="http://www.homertribune.com/article/1917homer_teens_win_technology_award_for" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Olivia Glasman and Delilah Harris</a>; <a href="https://www.knopnews2.com/content/news/Student-hopes-to-bridge--509140951.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Evelin Vasquez</a>; <a href="https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_focus/fridley-high-school-senior-olivia-yang-awarded-for-aspirations-in/article_2c720d32-6496-11e9-94a5-ab49f8157753.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Olivia Yang</a>; <a href="https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_thisweek/community/lakeville/lakeville-area-schools-education-briefs-for-the-week-of-april/article_41d0587a-5c5b-11e9-83c4-f3bee6ef8889.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">three community members from Lakeville, Minnesota</a>; <a href="https://www.hometownsource.com/press_and_news/free/mgsh-students-earn-honors-for-technology-leadership-skills/article_c3adc278-66b1-11e9-b5eb-ab9471a200a9.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">three community members from Maple Grove, Minnesota</a>; <a href="https://kpax.com/news/montana-news/2019/04/08/montana-hs-girls-recognized-for-computing-technology-achievement/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">20 students and 2 educators from Montana</a> (and also <a href="https://www.fairfieldsuntimes.com/news/state/montana-recognizes-twenty-high-school-women-for-computing-achievements/article_3ed43e56-5c84-11e9-9e5f-7f56ed2157bc.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>); and <a href="https://menafn.com/1098361636/LV-Techie-Awards-honors-gamechanging-women-in-IT-field" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">79 students from Clark County, Nevada</a>.

AiC Members - In the News (April 2019)

Combining the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology, the FIRST Robotics Competition aims to be the ultimate sport for the mind. Under strict rules, limited resources, and an intense six-week time limit, teams of students are challenged to raise funds, design a team "brand," hone teamwork skills, and build and program industrial-size robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team. Each season ends with an exciting FIRST Championship. For back-to-back weeks in April, more than 70,000 people from around the world – plus 1,300 robots – will travel to Houston and Detroit to celebrate inspiring young innovators, leaders, and changemakers at the 2019 FIRST Championship presented by Qualcomm Incorporated.Thursday, April 25, 2019 (All day) to Saturday, April 27, 2019 (All day)Follow @NCWITAiC on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/ncwit" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ncwitaic/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, as well as the hashtags <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NCWITatFIRST?src=hash" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#NCWITatFIRST</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIRSTChamp?src=hash" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#FIRSTChamp</a><h2>Where can you find NCWIT?</h2><h4>Meetup</h4><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ncwit-first-championship-detroit-social-2019-tickets-59548295555?fbclid=IwAR1p-c1xFz74n8nrx5iQAemh8uldcl9oPRuxtBpy4czaXKNguuHQXWh65qI" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NCWIT AiC Community Meetup</a> // Saturday, April 27, 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. CDT // Location: COBO Convention Center 250 CYou are invited to a special breakfast reception just for technical women at the FIRST Championships, hosted by NCWIT and our friends at FIRST! All women ages 13 and older who are currently in 8th grade or above, and their women teammates, as well as teachers, parents, mentors, and coaches are invited to attend. This is your opportunity to network and learn about opportunities, internships, and scholarships available through AiC.You've worked hard to get here, so take a break on us. There will be food, music, and door prizes! Not attending FIRST? No problem! It is free of charge to come to their event; just stop at their check-in/registration to get a badge (required to enter) - so make sure to leave a little extra time.<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ncwit-first-championship-detroit-social-2019-tickets-59548295555?fbclid=IwAR1p-c1xFz74n8nrx5iQAemh8uldcl9oPRuxtBpy4czaXKNguuHQXWh65qI" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Please RSVP</a> (you may do so for yourself and others) so we know how much food to order and how many prizes to bring!! <h4>Session</h4>Building a Community of Technical Women: The Power of the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Award in Underrepresented Communities // Friday, April 26, 2019, 2:30 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. CDT // Location: Room 252 ABThe NCWIT Aspirations in Computing (AiC) Award has recognized more than 12,000 technical women and adopted them into a nationwide community where members are eager to support each other and see the next generation of young women succeed. Research shows that providing cohesive communities like these is critical to producing an inclusive environment where all underrepresented students thrive and feel connected. Participants will learn how they can encourage high school women to apply for the Award for AiC and why supportive communities are so important to recruiting and retaining underrepresented students in computing and technology.presented by NCWIT Aspirations Regional Affiliate Manager Eva Bradshaw<h4>Booth</h4>Booth 1102Stop by the NCWIT booth, say hello to the Aspirations in Computing team, and learn how NCWIT can support you in pursuing your tech dreams!For more information about the FIRST Robotics Championships, visit the event <a href="https://www.firstchampionship.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">webpage.</a>

NCWIT Aspirations in Computing at the FIRST Robotics Championships in Detroit

Combining the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology, the FIRST Robotics Competition aims to be the ultimate sport for the mind. Under strict rules, limited resources, and an intense six-week time limit, teams of students are challenged to raise funds, design a team "brand," hone teamwork skills, and build and program industrial-size robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team. Each season ends with an exciting FIRST Championship. For back-to-back weeks in April, more than 70,000 people from around the world – plus 1,300 robots – will travel to Houston and Detroit to celebrate inspiring young innovators, leaders, and changemakers at the 2019 FIRST Championship presented by Qualcomm Incorporated.Thursday, April 18, 2019 (All day) to Saturday, April 20, 2019 (All day)Follow @NCWITAiC on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/ncwit" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ncwitaic/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, as well as the hashtags <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NCWITatFIRST?src=hash" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#NCWITatFIRST</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIRSTChamp?src=hash" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#FIRSTChamp</a><h2>Where can you find NCWIT?</h2><h4>Meetup</h4><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ncwit-first-championship-houston-social-2019-tickets-59548074895?fbclid=IwAR1p-c1xFz74n8nrx5iQAemh8uldcl9oPRuxtBpy4czaXKNguuHQXWh65qI" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NCWIT AiC Community Meetup</a> // Saturday, April 20, 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. CDT // Location: GRB - 330 BYou are invited to a special breakfast reception just for technical women at the FIRST Championships, hosted by NCWIT and our friends at FIRST! All women ages 13 and older who are currently in 8th grade or above, and their women teammates, as well as teachers, parents, mentors, and coaches are invited to attend. This is your opportunity to network and learn about opportunities, internships, and scholarships available through AiC.You've worked hard to get here, so take a break on us. There will be food, music, and door prizes! Not attending FIRST? No problem! It is free of charge to come to their event; just stop at their check-in/registration to get a badge (required to enter) - so make sure to leave a little extra time.<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ncwit-first-championship-houston-social-2019-tickets-59548074895?fbclid=IwAR1p-c1xFz74n8nrx5iQAemh8uldcl9oPRuxtBpy4czaXKNguuHQXWh65qI" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Please RSVP</a> (you may do so for yourself and others) so we know how much food to order and how many prizes to bring!! <h4>Special Sessions</h4>2019 #ALLIn Town Hall // Friday, April 19, 2019, 11:30 a.m. to 1:20 p.m. CDT // Location: GRB - 360 BCEFFIRST is excited to present the 2019 #ALLIn Town Hall. Interactive, engaging, empowering, inspiring, and collaborative are just a few words to describe this year's new event. Diverse individuals and communities enhance the value of science, technology, engineering, and math, and they contribute tremendously to STEM fields. Let's celebrate the accomplishments and the journey of professional women, professionals of color, and the LBGTQ+ communities in STEM, while inspiring and motivating all youth to LOVE STEM! The goal of this Town Hall is to provide youth and other community stakeholders the opportunity to interact with leaders and representatives on issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion.co-presented by NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Recognitions Program Manager Erika KarshBuilding a Community of Technical Women: The Power of the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Award in Underrepresented Communities // Friday, April 19, 2019, 1:30 p.m. to 2:20 p.m. CDT // Location: GRB - 370 CFThe NCWIT Aspirations in Computing (AiC) Award has recognized more than 12,000 technical women and adopted them into a nationwide community where members are eager to support each other and see the next generation of young women succeed. Research shows that providing cohesive communities like these is critical to producing an inclusive environment where all underrepresented students thrive and feel connected. Participants will learn how they can encourage high school women to apply for the Award for AiC and why supportive communities are so important to recruiting and retaining underrepresented students in computing and technology.presented by NCWIT AspireIT Program Manager Kate Pickle<h4>Booth</h4>Booth 1108Stop by the NCWIT booth, say hello to the Aspirations in Computing team, and learn how NCWIT can support you in pursuing your tech dreams!For more information about the FIRST Robotics Championships, visit the event <a href="https://www.firstchampionship.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">webpage.</a>

NCWIT Aspirations in Computing at the FIRST Robotics Championships in Houston

This post was submitted by AiC Community Member Katherine Huang.At the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing National Awards Ceremony held at Charlotte, North Carolina, I met 39 other inspiring female leaders in STEM. Ranging from authors to entrepreneurs to researchers, all of the girls I met were heavily involved in change-leading efforts geared towards removing the gender gap in technological fields.&nbsp;The event began with a get together, where 39 other girls and I participated in icebreakers. I met a girl who created a robot that places trash in bins based on its compostability or recyclability (Karly!). I met a girl who had an asteroid named after her (Savitha!) and an inventor of prosthetic arms (Wendy!). I still gush over all of the connections I made with so many motivated girls like myself, and seeing us all being awarded for our efforts is something I will never forget.I was exposed to coding for the first time as a young and avid bookworm on a digital reading website. My passion for coding grew in high school; however, it was there that I first met with discrimination and the stark difference between the enrollment of boys versus girls in computer classes. As one out of the two girls in my coding class, I felt compelled to create at least some type of change in my community so that more females would be interested in Technology; thus my organization, <a href="https://genzcoders.wixsite.com/stem" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">GenZCoders</a>, was born.I heard about the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Award through a friend who had applied the previous year, and I initially applied because I thought it would be a great opportunity to connect with other like-minded and passionate girls. I found that the impact of receiving the award is long-term—I text the 2019 winners through a group chat almost every day, I follow their successes and achievements through social media, I receive help in projects that I want to implement in my community, and I’ve created lifelong friendships that I am 100% sure will help me achieve&nbsp;success and guide other girls through the STEM fields.As I sat in my seat while I devoured the chocolate lava cake at the awards dinner, I lifted my head and looked at all the girls around me. I realized that I was literally surrounded by the leaders of the future. This was a whole community of girls who, by their teenage years, have already led multiple projects that have affected thousands of girls. They are fighting the gender gap in the technological field, and have spoken with renowned individuals on the issue. Then I realized that I was part of this amazing group, and it made me so much more aware of my ability as a leader and changemaker—something I will continuously strive to be!One lesson learned through my involvement in the Award Ceremony that really stuck with me is that finding a group of girls who have similar values to mine has been incredibly important. Surrounding myself with people who are impassioned and unrelenting with their fight against discrimination, and who enjoy challenging themselves intellectually, truly reinforces and perpetuates the importance of those skills in myself. I know that immersing myself in the NCWIT AIC National Award Winner group of 2019 will help me to push myself as a leader and a proponent for female empowerment in all areas.In 5 years, I see myself pursuing a masters degree in Computer Science at a university that nurtures my interests in technology, diversity, and innovation. Propelled forward by my presence in the NCWIT community and the female tech-world, I have no doubt that I will have an abundance of research and internship opportunities. Hopefully I will have expanded my network tenfold, reaching female leaders with different passions, dreams, and goals, yet sharing the common goal of promoting the role of women in society.

A Life-Changing Experience with Life-Changing People

This post was submitted by AiC Community Member Katherine Huang.On March 8-10, 2019, the 40 national recipients of the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing gathered in Charlotte, North Carolina, for awards weekend. And, what a celebration it was!On Friday, I flew from Boston to Charlotte. After I landed around noon, a professional driver took a fellow winner and me to the Ritz-Carlton, an upscale hotel connected to several buildings with restaurants, shops, and offices. We dropped off our belongings and grabbed lunch, and then I went to explore. Although it was rainy, I walked around uptown Charlotte for a bit and stumbled upon an art gallery open to the public at the Foundation for the Carolinas.Back at the hotel, one of the other winners had just met P!nk in the elevator! More people arrived, and we all received gift bags and info packets upon registration. After a social/dinner, the winners participated in some fun icebreakers, followed by a pool party. I chatted with lots of people and went in a hot tub for the first time.As I took in my surroundings, I thought about how I first got involved with Aspirations in Computing. In 9th grade, I escaped that winter’s record-breaking wind chills by staying up 24 hours coding in a company office for CodeDay Boston. There were only 30 attendees, which created a tight-knit atmosphere. I chatted for hours with the organizer, who told me about NCWIT and gave me a high-five for using Github. As an 11th grader, I applied for the NCWIT Award for AiC and was selected as a Massachusetts affiliate winner. The following year, I almost didn’t apply because I believed I had no chance at winning nationally. Fortunately, a friend of mine talked me out of this line of thinking!During the award ceremony itself, I found it almost impossible to listen to the biographies of my fellow winners and not be impressed, inspired, and a little intimidated. What inspired me more, though, was interacting with everyone face-to-face at the celebration afterwards. No one introduced themselves with a list of accomplishments, and I got the vibe from everyone that I could talk to them for hours because they’re so interesting, kind, and funny. My fellow recipients, now friends, inspire me not only to pursue activities similar to what they’ve done, but also to be someone open to connecting with others and learning new things.The future is bright. This can be tough to see when you’re stressed, facing failures, or otherwise experiencing difficulties in your life. In fact, it might sound very privileged of me to be able to say that. However, knowing what every young woman in the NCWIT Community has achieved and experiencing the support we have for each other assure me that though the future won’t be perfect, things will improve.I want to see more women leading and succeeding everywhere, unobstructed by gender or biological sex. Technology, however, stands out. It provides the fastest way to make and share ideas, to amplify your voice, to find a supportive community—what could be more empowering than that? In a world of institutionalized sexism, it is powerful and crucial for women to make ourselves, our projects, and our concerns heard. I’m grateful to not (yet) have experienced many instances of blatant discrimination specifically for being a woman in tech. Nonetheless, my experiences of sexual harassment, as well as environments fueled by implicit bias and strict gender roles, send discouraging messages. Many incredible people I know, particularly females, suffer from impostor syndrome. I wish for everyone to be able to conquer self-doubts just enough to design, or write, or build something and put it out there. Make yourself be seen and heard.I’ll be attending MIT this fall, where I hope to study Course 6-14 (Computer Science, Economics, and Data Science) and minor in Anthropology. That being said, I recognize that what I’ve had the chance to experience during high school only scratches the surface of all that’s out there. I view college, especially the beginning of it, as a time to explore unfamiliar topics and find what uniquely excites me. To me, it is more important to remain true to my values and be constantly learning than to have a clearly defined career path. In five years, I aim to have my bachelor’s degree and be making positive impact on the world as a social entrepreneur, data scientist, or interactive journalist. No matter what, I know I’ll be giving back to organizations and communities like NCWIT.

A Weekend with 40 Teen Girls Who Are the Future of Tech

NCWIT Aspirations in Computing is pleased to announce that Helena High School Computing Instructor Buffy Smith has been named the recipient of the 2019 NCWIT Aspirations in Computing (AiC) National Educator Award!
	Each year, the <a href="/award-programs/aic-educator-award" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NCWIT AiC Educator Award</a> publicly celebrates formal and informal educators who encourage high school women’s interest and participation in technology pursuits. To date, nearly 400 educators have been honored for demonstrating an exceptionally strong, consistent, and positive involvement in supporting female students in computer science.
	<img src="https://ncwit-aspirations-service-stage-public.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/buffysmith_7in.jpg" alt="Buffy Smith" style="float: right; width: 150px; height: 200px; margin: 10px 20px;" >
	Buffy Smith knows firsthand how challenging it can be for interested students to access computing education when they live in a highly rural state like Montana, because it’s an obstacle she’s faced throughout her career. Buffy first fell in love with computing in high school. A college programming class convinced her to turn this passion into a career, but her college only offered a minor in Computer Science, so she paired that minor with a major in English. After seven years teaching high school English, she was told she could switch to Computer Science if she took some additional summer training. She leapt at the chance, and since then, she has not stopped expanding her knowledge, teaching herself several programming languages and taking graduate classes on Oracle and Python. She has also learned to build robots, fly drones, and use 3D printing technology, because these are topics of particular interest to her students.
	Her search for the best teaching practices for high school computing classes has often been a lonely one. As she notes, “There are not many schools in Montana [that] offer computer science, so it is difficult to find other high school teachers to work with.” Throughout her career, she has been keenly aware of the fact that although her home state has a large number of high-paying tech career opportunities, there is a widespread lack of computing instruction. For this reason, much of her extracurricular work has focused on increasing the availability of computing education for students across the state.
	Because of her experience, passion, and commitment, Buffy has been part of numerous advisory councils and committees working to attract more students generally, and women in particular, to Computer Science, both in Montana and nationwide. She was part of the first all-female panel to present at InfoSys CrossRoads in 2017, and in that same year she represented Montana at the Governors for CS &amp; K-12 Computer Science Framework Convening hosted by Code.org. As a member of the Montana Computer Science Education Advisory Council, she is currently helping to develop a set of standards that can be used to guide the teaching of Computer Science in Montana high schools, with the eventual goal of introducing a computing requirement for graduation. “A great start for encouraging females and underrepresented populations to pursue IT careers is to ensure that they have actually taken a computer class,” she says, because “I often have students comment that they did not realize how challenging and fun programming could be until they tried it.”
	Buffy has received the AiC Educator Award three times. Receiving the award, she reflects, has made her feel an even greater responsibility to help make the computing world more inclusive, both in school and in the workplace. From choices made in the classroom on a day-to-day basis to major decisions about her school’s computing curriculum, she has implemented many changes in her efforts to reduce barriers to women’s participation. She has made her classes more responsive to women students’ needs and interests by introducing different kinds of programs as projects and by adapting the physical environment to be more welcoming. She took additional graduate courses in order to bring classes like The Joy and Beauty of Computing and The Joy and Beauty of Big Data to her school, and she also created online versions of these courses, noting, “Girls who are intimidated in the regular classroom are often more willing to try computer science online, and the online format allows students from schools without a computer science program to take a class.”
	She is also very committed to helping students get the kind of real-world computing experience that will better prepare them for tech jobs after graduation. In 2013 and again in 2014, her students made headlines as winners of the Verizon Innovative App Challenge. The 2013 team collaborated with the Helena Fire Department - at their request - to create a functional app that greatly improved the fire department’s ability to accurately track emergency response times. With the money the school received from these prizes, Buffy purchased a VIVE virtual reality system for the Computer Science classroom, and she has plans to learn the Unity platform so that she can teach students to develop their own VR programs.
	&nbsp;

2019 NCWIT National AiC Educator Award Winner Buffy Smith

<ul><li>Congratulations to two AiC Community members, Isha Puri and Eshika Saxena, who are among the winners of this year’s Cutler-Bell Prize! This award, sponsored by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA), promotes the field of computer science and empowers students to pursue computing challenges beyond the traditional classroom environment. Read about their outstanding achievements <a href="https://www.acm.org/media-center/2019/march/cutler-bell-prize-2018" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</li><li>In the 2019 Alabama State of the State address, Governor Kay Ivey recognized AiC Community Member Arrington Harper for her achievements in Computer Science and her advocacy work to advance the goal of greater inclusivity in the field of computing. <a href="http://www.wsfa.com/video/2019/03/06/gov-ivey-introduces-guest-arrington-harper-2/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">This video clip</a> captures the governor’s introduction as well as the standing ovation Arrington received.</li><li>Congratulations also to AiC Community Member Preeti Pidatala, one of three winners of the PolyMet Mining For Excellence scholarship! Learn more about this award, which is designed to support young people entering STEM fields, <a href="https://www.swnewsmedia.com/lakeshore_weekly/news/education/wayzata-student-awarded-k-scholarship-from-polymet/article_f08f81d0-a8f0-56e2-8f4b-a4a5c7ee9814.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</li><li>AiC Community Member Ambica Ramchandra started her AspireIT program, Smart Code of Life, to help younger students discover the fascinating connections between coding, neuroscience, computer science, and entrepreneurship. Learn more in <a href="https://www.greensboro.com/news/education/greensboro-high-school-student-teaches-local-and-refugee-girls-about/article_8d25ac6b-dd54-5c05-b0c0-1f78c092dd9f.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this feature</a>!</li><li>“The only logical answer for my [never-ending] questions [was] the application of engineering principles and design concepts.” // See what inspired AiC Community Member Patricia Garcia to become a bioengineering researcher in <a href="https://medium.com/wogrammer/the-thousand-mile-engineering-journey-4f22b2966b78" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this profile</a>.</li></ul>March Shout OutsVisibility is vital when it comes to inspiring women and girls to pursue their passions for technology and computing, and we’re excited to see many AiC Community members making a splash in local news outlets. Spotted this month: <a href="https://www.capitalgazette.com/ac-cn-studentachievers-nchs-20190317-story.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sarah Abdallah</a>; <a href="https://www.nj.com/independentpress/2019/03/chatham-high-school-senior-named-ncwit-aspirations-in-computing-awards-affiliate-winner.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rhea Sinha</a>; <a href="https://www.buckeyelakebeacon.net/articles/lakewoods-share-of-casino-profits-is-small/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Abigail Smith</a>; <a href="https://www.courierjournal.net/shoals_shorts/article_eb85e682-49dc-11e9-9489-ef3e053ecbed.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">two community members from Muscle Shoals, Alabama</a>; <a href="https://www.villagelivingonline.com/news/school-board-reviews-recognitions-fy18-audit0311/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">five community members from Mountain Brook, Alabama</a>; <a href="https://www.postguam.com/news/local/university-presents-young-women-with-computing-awards/article_2f27245e-46ff-11e9-9c96-cfcb156504b2.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">seven community members from Guam</a>; <a href="https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_current/free/edina-students-awarded-for-aspirations-in-computing/article_dabc5aac-4b21-11e9-84c7-c793d440a4a3.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">seven community members from Edina, Minnesota</a>; <a href="https://news.uark.edu/articles/46351/information-technology-research-institute-to-recognize-26-high-school-women-for-computing-achievements-and-aspirations" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">26 community members from across Arkansas</a>; and <a href="http://www.londonderrynh.net/2019/03/award-recognizes-dozens-of-local-high-school-women-for-computing-achievements/95303" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">43 community members from across New Hampshire</a>. Congratulations to everyone for their great work!

AiC Members - In the News (March 2019)

<ul><li>“I want to continue to improve access to computing education for people like me at every level, from K-12 through higher education.” // In <a href="https://medium.com/csforall-stories/changing-the-world-and-challenging-my-fears-7b7abed9431d" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this op-ed piece</a>, AiC Community Member and #CSforAll Accessibility Advocate Meredith Boyce calls out the systemic barriers to disabled women’s participation in computing.</li><li>“To me, a computer scientist embodies kindness, resilience, and aspiration.” // AiC Community Member Stephanie Younger reflected on how inclusive computing programs helped prepare her to combat systemic bias and start her own coding workshops for Black women and girls in a post that was originally published in 2017 and was re-shared in honor of Black History Month (no longer available).</li><li>This article profiles AiC Community Member Rian Walker and her personal transformation from a young student pursuing dreams of programming in spite of great odds, to an inspirational role model for others. Go <a href="https://medium.com/csforall-stories/from-mentee-to-mentor-to-role-model-65f940a4da63" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a> to discover how she learned from her mentors, then became one herself.</li><li>When AiC Community Member Caeley Looney first walked into a Girl Scouts robotics activity in middle school, she had no idea she was embarking on a journey that would lead her to become a rocket scientist. In <a href="https://medium.com/wogrammer/girl-scout-to-galaxy-explorer-907ed062042e" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this article</a>, she shares some of the challenges she faced along the way - and how the support of the Aspirations Community helped her keep going.</li><li>“There's always something to learn, [and] there's always somebody out there ready to teach you something.” // In this <a href="https://fox4kc.com/2019/02/13/grandview-18-year-old-wins-prestigious-national-award-for-women-in-stem/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fox4 Kansas City feature</a>, Chyanne Sandoval-Williams talks about the importance of positive, visible, tech-savvy role models for young people from underrepresented groups.</li><li>“Technical literacy is just as important as math and English, and everybody can benefit from a computer science course, regardless of their intended major.” // Check out <a href="https://we-ha.com/conard-student-wins-national-aspirations-in-computing-award/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this profile</a> of AiC Community member Megan Goulet.</li></ul>Many members of the AiC Community are getting noticed for their achievements! This month, we spotted features in various local news outlets, shining a spotlight on <a href="https://www.villagelivingonline.com/schools/private-schools/lakhanpal-earns-national-computing-honorable-mention0204/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Amrita Lakhanpal</a>, <a href="https://www.ktsm.com/news/education/las-cruces-student-earns-national-computer-science-award/1733975883" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Breanna Widner</a>, <a href="http://www.sanduskyregister.com/story/201902040045" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kamryn Ohly</a>, <a href="https://www.dailyprogress.com/greenenews/news/wmhs-freshman-earns-tech-award/article_2cd60a26-2fc6-11e9-90a4-93c73abd5f4c.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Miryam Reid</a>, <a href="https://www.cjonline.com/sports/20190215/a-force-to-be-reckoned-with-topeka-high-senior-wins-computing-award" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Angelica Comahig</a> (and also <a href="https://www.wibw.com/content/news/Topeka-High-senior-wins-NCWIT-computing-award-506015081.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>), <a href="http://themercury.com/news/education/school-notebook-committee-to-interview-for-mhs-principal/article_d5bdb9b7-0191-5158-9a31-6d55f1377130.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Alice Le</a>, <a href="http://www.norwalkplus.com/nwk/information/nwsnwk/publish/education/Three-SPS-Students-Earn-Recognition-in-the-2019-NCWIT-Award-for-Aspirations-in-Computing_np_25081.shtml" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">three community members from Stamford, Connecticut</a>, and <a href="https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/20190224/school-news-february-24-2019" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">four community members from Tuscaloosa, Alabama</a>. Congratulations, everyone!

AiC Members - In the News (February 2019)

<ul><li>2019 AiC Award Winner and Yorktown, NY Senior Class President <a href="https://www.aspirations.org/user/114768" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sayli Satpute</a> was the subject of this “<a href="https://www.tapinto.net/sections/education/articles/yorktown-student-spotlight-sayli-satpute" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Student Spotlight!</a>” See how she’s pursuing her goal of becoming a doctor while also exploring American history and helping younger girls discover STEM.</li><li>Watch AiC Community Member Megan Loh in action! This <a href="https://abc7.com/science/cool-kid-megan-loh-sparks-girls-interest-in-science/5094675/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ABC News “Cool Kid” segment</a> features Megan teaching elementary school girls to build their own robots in the AspireIT program she developed in partnership with the Fullerton, California Boys and Girls Club.</li><li>This month, Wogrammer featured AiC Community Member Pia Sen in an <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bshes_AhPgt/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram profile</a>, where she shares about her innovative work in astrobiology.</li><li>2018 AiC Award Winner Jothi Ramaswamy is in the spotlight <a href="https://www.tapinto.net/towns/yorktown/articles/student-spotlight-lakeland-high-school-s-jothi-ramaswamy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">in this news feature</a>. Find out how her work has her meeting up with influencers from Tim Cook to Michelle Obama!</li><li>Seven members of the AiC Community were named Global Teen Leaders by Three Dot Dash and the We Are Family Foundation! Go <a href="https://www.aspirations.org/blog/congratulations-aic-community-members-named-global-teen-leaders" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a> to see how these teens are developing innovative tech approaches to&nbsp;the world’s most pressing problems.</li></ul>

AiC Members - In the News (January 2019)

The We Are Family Foundation has recently announced the 2019 cohort of Three Dot Dash Global Teen Leaders, and seven AiC Community members are included in this list of change-leading teens from around the world.The <a href="http://www.wearefamilyfoundation.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">We Are Family Foundation</a> (WAFF) is a non-profit organization whose mission is “creating and supporting programs that promote cultural diversity while nurturing and mentoring the vision, talents, and ideas of young people who are positively changing the world.” Three Dot Dash is a WAFF initiative focused on promoting peace by ensuring that basic human needs are met. In the Global Teen Leader program, teens who are already leading visionary projects are paired with industry experts for a year of mentorship and collaboration. The 2019 cohort includes 33 honorees from ages 13 to 19, representing 14 different countries.Read on to learn how AiC Community members are using technological innovation to help address some of the most important global issues of our time:Archika Dogra founded The EduSTEM Initiative to counteract the persistent message that “STEM isn’t for girls.” EduSTEM draws on STEMX curriculum, such as STEMXPoliticalScience and STEMXEntrepreneurship, to create programming designed to educate and encourage women and other underrepresented groups to pursue interests in STEM fields.Ari Sokolov was inspired to create the Trill app after learning through research that many LGBTQIA+ youth felt isolated and alone within online communities. Trill offers a social networking platform where tens of thousands of users have found support and connection.Marissa Sumathipala developed the Theraplexus computational platform as a way to improve the efficiency of treatments for major diseases by cross-referencing the molecular interactions that characterize medical conditions and identifying promising points for pharmaceutical intervention within those processes.Priya Mittal is combating food waste with her company GroGreen Tech. The app she developed matches farmers with restaurants that purchase “unwanted” aesthetically imperfect produce at lower prices.Shreya Nallapati, moved by the youth activism that arose after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, designed the NeverAgainTech platform, which uses predictive analytics and data mining to identify and potentially prevent future mass shootings.Teevyah Yuva Raju’s project, AgCure, is aimed at helping farmers reduce crop loss. This computational system uses calculations and basic information about soil types to provide information about what specific compounds would be beneficial for the health of both crops and soil.Veenadhari Kollipara is working to eliminate the overuse of pesticides and fertilizers with her Drone-Enabled Precision Agriculture End-to-End Solution, which uses drones to analyze soil conditions and crop growth while also applying chemicals as needed to localized targets.Congratulations to these AiC Community members on being recognized for their innovative approaches to solving some of the world’s most pressing problems. To learn more about these and other projects spearheaded by the 2019 Three Dot Dash Global Teen Leaders, go here.

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