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<img src="https://wpassets.ncwit.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/30151828/InnovatorToInnovator_Logo-01.png" alt="Innovator" style="float: left;">Inspired by the upcoming 2018 AiC Award celebrations, Apple and NCWIT present a new 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&nbsp;inaugural&nbsp;edition of “Innovator to Innovator,” where NCWIT AiC Community members have the opportunity to talk with Apple executives about their personal philosophies, past experiences, and pivotal influencers — and to discuss their shared mission to increase the meaningful participation of women in computing.
	
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	<h4>Who knew that Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, and I would be on a first-name basis?</h4>
	
Sure, many have seen him in high-profile interviews on television and magazines or keynote presentations, but to have the incredible opportunity of speaking with him was both exciting and scary. The process began when my computer class teacher at Porter-Gaud challenged us to interview a person of interest in technology and present what we learned.
	
	<h4>Trips to the Apple Store with Dad Fostered a Love for Technology</h4>
	
	Ever since I was a little girl, my Dad and I would share our love of technology by visiting the Apple Store downtown from when it first opened in Charleston, South Carolina to play around with the latest technology and products. My Father would tell me the stories about the company that started in a garage by a college dropout who had the determination, passion, and vision to make technology accessible by not letting it get in the way of the person using it. I began coding in lower school. As the years increased, the number of girls in computer class decreased.
	
<img src="https://wpassets.ncwit.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/30153637/InnovatorToInnovator_RebeccaAndDad_Photo_LG.png" alt="rebecca and dad photo" style="float: right; width:300px">
	
	<h4>Two Innovators Connect</h4>
	
	It was my senior year, and I wanted to interview not just a real leader in technology, but one whose philosophy and ideas about life were motivating as well. As soon as the assignment was announced, one name immediately came to mind: Apple CEO Tim Cook. He is not just in charge of the world’s largest tech company, but he personally advocates and stands up for things he believes are right. He travels the world and meets with political and innovative leaders. What was the likelihood of him even responding to me?
	
<img src="https://wpassets.ncwit.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/30153700/InnovatorToInnovator_TimCook_Q1-02.png" alt="Tim" style="float: right;">Amazingly, Tim Cook actually read my email, asking for a few moments of his time to complete my computer project. When the interview actually took place, I was surprised to hear his southern personality and mannerisms when I first heard him say “Hello, Rebecca.” He immediately put me at ease: “Call me Tim -- Mr. Cook is my father’s name.”
	
	<h4>Tim’s Thoughts on Increasing Diversity in Tech</h4>
	
	Tim considers diversity of ideas and viewpoints critical not just for business, but also for society to grow and thrive. I wanted to know what leaders in the technology industry could do to motivate more women to pursue courses and careers in computer science:
	
<ul>
		
		<li>Tim believes kids should start learning code as young as in lower school.</li>
		
		<li>As an advocate for more women in leadership roles, he pushes for companies to acknowledge the importance of women and to allow flexibility when leaving the workplace for family matters.</li>
		
		<li>He believes society and companies can improve when “everybody is treated with dignity and respect.”</li>
	
	</ul>
	
	<h4>Following Your North Star</h4>
	
	<img src="https://wpassets.ncwit.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/30153720/InnovatorToInnovator_TimCook_Q2-01.png" style="float: right;" alt="“Tim">
	
	Tim’s “objective in life is to work for some higher purpose,” and make it “your North Star.” His ‘North Star’ analogy and inspirational idea makes me look past current struggles by focusing on the future ahead. His personal philosophy of focusing on more significant ideas and goals is evident in the way he approaches running the company. Apple is “all about doing just a few things, but the few things that we do, we want to make the very best in the world. Because we believe those make a much larger difference in the world than if we were to focus on just making the most."
	
While he openly admits to his failures, Tim also optimistically regards them as lessons to avoid repeating. Whenever he feels discouraged, he tells himself to “keep your eye on your North Star, and keep moving” because the “worst thing to do would be to fail and quit. Failure is just temporary, but quitting lasts forever.” The lesson is valuable: don’t try to do and worry about every little opportunity. Instead, set a few big goals and consistently take steps towards reaching them.
	
	<h4>Role Models: From Yesterday to Today</h4>
	
	Tim also expressed genuine admiration for various women. He considers Angela Merkel a “phenomenal leader not only for Germany but the world.” He recently met with Lori Robinson, a four-star general in the Air Force, who struck him as an incredible and courageous woman who combines rare “unbelievable leadership in humanity and humility.” As a southerner, Tim thought Rosa Parks was “quite the hero” who “accelerated the civil rights act by years” with her courage. Coincidently, Tim and I were able to connect over our admiration for Rosa Parks as I recently wrote about her incredible bravery in my Stanford college application.
	
	Tim also enthusiastically admires and compliments the younger generation of people because he imagines that “this generation, more than any other in history, wants to improve everyone’s lives.” He attributes their “greater purpose” as not being as focused on increasing wealth and making money, but rather “on doing good.”
	
	<img src="https://wpassets.ncwit.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/30153736/InnovatorToInnovator_TimCook_Q3_Photo-02.png" alt="“Tim" style="float: right;">
	
	Throughout the interview, I was struck with his philosophy of taking proactive steps tomake the world a more thriving, enjoyable, and philanthropic place. As amazing as it made me feel to have had the chance to personally learn from him, I consider him to be not just a technology groundbreaker, but an influential world leader.
	&nbsp;
	<hr>
	<h4>About Rebecca and AiC</h4>
	
	<img src="https://wpassets.ncwit.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/30151843/InnovatorToInnovator_Graphic_RKPhoto_WEB.png" alt="RK Photo" style="float: right;">Rebecca Kahn’s computing skills and aspirations overlap with her passion for medicine. She programmed an open heart surgery simulation using the Kinect camera for high school students who wanted to find out if they had what it took to become a doctor. For the past two summers, Rebecca has volunteered at the MUSC hospital and has conducted a patient flow analysis with her fellow volunteers. One of her goals is to create a program that closes the gap between patients and doctors and figure out a way to prevent unnecessary wait times in the hospital. In college, Rebecca hopes to bring together her love of computer science and biochemistry, and in the future, she plans on becoming a doctor where she can apply her problem solving skills to use technology to help patients.
	
	 Rebecca is a 2017 NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing (AiC) national honorable mention, a 2016 South Carolina Affiliate Award for AiC winner, and a member of the NCWIT AiC Community -- an expansive network of more than 10,000 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 CEO Tim Cook Interviewed by High School Senior Rebecca Kahn

<ul><li>Here's AiC Community Member Michelle Qin's #iAspire story on being a part of the AiC Community and running an #AspireIT program. // “I’ve been thinking over the past week how grateful I am to be a part of NCWIT and this incredible, strong, inspirational community of women. I feel so lucky to be able to learn from you all, hear about your successes, share my ideas, and continue pursuing my passion for computing. I am especially thankful for the opportunity to have been the program leader for a two-week AspireIT program named 'Coding Together' that I organized in July 2017. Not only did it open my eyes to the amazing potential of young girls in STEM (the students designed a prototype for an arm using 3D Modeling, created interactive games about women’s rights, and coded a Finch Robot to help the blind — how impressive is that?!), but it also showed me the great impact that the NCWIT community holds. I still keep in touch with professionals in the computing industry (from Raytheon, Dell, GraphIQ, UCSB) who shared inspiring guest speaker presentations, fellow AspireIT program leaders who gave me advice, and the girls who participated in the program who tell me how they are continuing to pursue their passions in STEM with no hesitance or fear. The success of the program (we were even featured on the front page of the newspaper!), the formation of friendships and a local community dedicated to empowering girls in STEM, and the impact on the girls truly could not have been possible without NCWIT. Thank you for the opportunity to apply for the AiC award, lead an AspireIT program, and be a member of this remarkable group. Every single day, I feel empowered to pursue my dreams and be a role model for younger girls. You have made a big difference in my life, and so many others." // Thanks, Michelle, for sharing!</li><li>AiC Community Member Christina Li was featured on CNN's <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/12/us/gallery/cnn-young-wonders-2017/index.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“YOUNG WONDERS: A CNN Heroes Special</a>” last week! Christina was highlighted for her efforts in closing the STEM gender gap. Way to go, Christina!</li><li>“I would have said that using computers was too ‘hard’ for someone like me and would not have a chance of having a profession in technology. When I started camp, I was very nervous that others were going to be better than me at it, but then I realized others were still learning, too.” // AiC Community Member and #AspireIT Program Leader Madeline Chairvolotti shared a little of her experience inspiring the next generation of technologists.</li><li>“I joke that there’s an addiction that comes with coding that no one tells you about. When you solve a problem correctly there’s such a high you get, like, ‘Oh my God, it works!’ And that’s the feeling I wanted.” // AiC Community Member Julie Hubschman was named a “problem-solving alumni” by Goucher College. Read all about her <a href="http://blogs.goucher.edu/magazine/problem-solvers/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</li><li>Ever wonder what to do about the ongoing concern with “fake news” on social media? AiC Community Member Sreya Guha decided to use her tech skills to help solve it. // “When you look at most news articles today, you find a row of social sharing buttons. It would be great if, along with these buttons, when clicked, (one) would give users fact-checks related to that article.”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.poynter.org/news/website-helps-you-find-related-fact-checks-and-it-was-built-17-year-old" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Learn more here</a>.</li><li>“...the best part about computer science and AI is that it’s incredibly accessible for high school students. As young scientists fresh into the field, we’re blissfully naive, ready to tackle any challenge. We view the world not how it is, but how it can be as a result of technological innovation. We’re not constrained by grant funding or a pressure to publish; we’re able to explore our true, perhaps outlandish, visions for the future and make them a reality. We’re not conservative in our efforts, we’re radical.” // AiC Community Member Kavya Kopparapu was invited to be part of the Smithsonian's “Long Conversation,” a series of dialogues about the future. <a href="https://compscikavya.wordpress.com/2017/12/02/smithsonian-long-conversation/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read and see more</a> from Kavya’s inspiring conversation with famed Cellist Yo-Yo Ma.</li><li>Get to know AiC Community Members and SWENext Global Innovator Award Winners Madeline Chairvolotti and Saumya Rawat! Way to go, ya'll. #iAspire <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54Nzv-eHD4k&amp;feature=youtu.be" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Watch now</a>.</li><li>Our friends at Roadtrip Nation hosted a live stream (no longer available) from @ATT HQ with an interactive #WomeninSTEM panel and Q&amp;A, which included AiC Community Member Regina Lin.</li><li>Is that AiC Community Member and #AspireIT Team Leader Sofia Ongele alongside Karlie Kloss in <a href="http://www.girlslife.com/life/get-inspired/33487/how-to-be-a-coding-queen-everything-you-need-to-know" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the latest issue of Girls Life magazine</a>? Why yes, it is! And, she’s sharing what it's like to be a coding queen. Go, Sofia!</li></ul>

AiC Members - In The News (December 2017)

<ul><li>"I couldn't be more grateful to Marvel, Dolby Studios, the American Association of the Advancement of Science, and Synchrony Bank for giving me and the other finalists such an incredibly unique and memorable experience. We all learned so much about how to be proficient in and dedicated to our work in STEM." // AiC Community Member Jill Eddy was one of five finalists for Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok' Superpower of STEM Contest! She was flown out to Los Angeles for a red carpet screening of the film and a behind-the-scenes look at Walt Disney Studios. Way to go! <a href="https://patch.com/ohio/westlake/westlake-senior-finalist-thor-ragnarok-stem-contest" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read more</a>.</li><li>Holy cow! So many of our AiC Community Members are listed as 2018 Coca-Cola Scholar Semifinalists, we almost lost count. We're extending huge congratulations to Omika Suryawanshi, Briana Berger, Ottilie Cooper-Ohm, Hannah Cole, Sophia Wang, Saumya Rawat, Pamela Petterchak, Julia Singer, Moya Ly, Martha Yin, and Afe Addeh. Way to rock it! <a href="http://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/blog/2018-coca-cola-scholar-semifinalists/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read more!</a></li><li>For her 2016 Congressional App Challenge winning app, AiC Community Member Jasmine Steele created “ALLERGY BLAST” to help protect people with dangerous allergies. And now, her local paper is hailing her a <a href="https://www.danvillesanramon.com/news/2017/11/12/tri-valley-hero-danvilles-jasmine-steele-life-saving-information" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tri-Valley Hero</a>! Find out more about the app that hundreds of users have downloaded and its inspiring creator.</li><li>“I was getting frustrated. I drew a face on my palm and held it up to the camera, and it detected the face on my palm. I was like ‘Oh this is ridiculous.’ Just being goofy, I put the white mask on to see what would happen, and lo and behold, it detected the white mask.” // Collegiate Award Winner Joy Buolamwini <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/tech/ai-bias/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">talked with PBS</a> about how she got started busting biases found in AI.</li><li>With patents pending, AiC Community Member Annie Ostojic is listed as one of <a href="https://www.forbes.com/pictures/5a0208cfa7ea436b47b50119/annie-ostojic-15/#78a36ab53a14" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Forbes 2018 #30Under30</a>: Energy! We are incredibly proud to have Annie as part of the community.</li><li>AiC Community Member Amy Chen chatted it up with SheNomads about her love for containers, Kubernetes, Go, and software infrastructure in a video interview (no longer available).</li><li>NCWITAiC Program Director Edie Cheng recently moderated a #WCET17 panel of AiC Community Members, including Caroline Creidenberg, Amelia Coomber, and Hannah Apuan. Since winning their Awards for AiC, Caroline has her own startup wedding tech company; Amelia is a senior graduating with CS and Math in the Spring; and Hannah is working as a Software Engineer at SendGrid... Impressive! Grab a cup of coffee, and listen as they share <a href="http://events7.mediasite.com/Mediasite/Play/5a43a4a9d3fe4e5abb043af5082aa1d21d?catalog=f02ec509-deae-4137-b0d3-abc1448cd06e" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">their #iAspire stories</a>.</li><li>“Young women should apply for the Aspirations award because it is a great opportunity to gain networking experience, and it’s definitely an amazing opportunity to learn about different types of careers available through the STEM field. I was really inspired by all the successful women thriving in their careers within the IT field, and it definitely encouraged me to keep pushing myself to be the best I can be.” // How else has winning an NCWIT Affiliate Award for AiC helped to change AiC Community Member Maria Sanchez Lopez’s life? <a href="http://advanceitmn.org/where-are-they-now-maria-sanchez-lopez/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read her #iAspire story.</a></li></ul>

AiC Members - In The News! (November 2017)

<ul>
		
		<li>My own experiences have shown me the importance of encouragement and engagement. In 7th grade, my parents enrolled me in a weekly Java camp, the first of many programs. On the first day I expected to make many new friends; however, when I entered the room I realized I was the only girl. As a 13-year-old, I was nervous and initially wanted to leave, but my mom insisted that I at least try the class. An hour later, I instantly knew that I wanted to pursue a career in technology and became committed to encouraging other girls to join STEM.” // AiC Community Member Saumya Rawat shared what drives her to help encourage the next generation of women in tech. #iAspire <a href="http://cs.utdallas.edu/it-empowerment-for-her-growing-a-strong-community-of-girls-in-stem-it-and-cs/" target="_blank">Read it here.</a></li>
		
		<li>“Now I’m hoping I can be a role model for other minority students and for my younger siblings.” // See what AiC Community Member and brand new University of Wisconsin Badger Rosee Xiong is up to! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/iaspire?source=feed_text&amp;story_id=1633522000001602" target="_blank">#iAspire</a> https://news.wisc.edu/brand-new-badger-daughter-of-hmong-immigrants-part-of-national-push-for-more-women-in-technology/</li>
		
		<li>"Christina always had a passion for computing. But growing up, she assumed you needed a Stanford degree to make a career out of it, and didn’t think that option was available to someone from a working-class family like hers. A community college showed her that wasn’t the case. " Read more about AiC Community Member Christina Emerson and many other inspiring stories in Melinda Gates' <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/throughhereyes?source=feed_text&amp;story_id=1632399520113850" target="_blank">#ThroughHerEyes</a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BaDVcwQjg5l/" target="_blank"> campaign</a>. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/iaspire?source=feed_text&amp;story_id=1632399520113850" target="_blank">#iAspire</a></li>
		
		<li>Did you know that 2017 National AiC Winner Jennifer Martinez was the only female to pass the AP computer science exam at her school? She then went on to introduce more than 400 students to computing. Jennifer is a proud, first-generation Latina who was accepted to her dream school, Columbia, as an engineering major, making her the first person in her family to attend a 4-year college. <a href="https://www.bostontechmom.com/high-school-girls-apply-ncwits-aspirations-computing-award/" target="_blank">Read on to learn more.</a></li>
		
		<li>AiC Community Members Caitlin S., Sofia O., Areeta W., and Malavika V. are among <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/10-girlboss-women-in-tech-and-their-advice-for-you_us_59d692ede4b0cf2548b33599" target="_blank">10 Girlboss Women in Tech </a>with some inspiring advice for you! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/iaspire?source=feed_text&amp;story_id=1627665603920575" target="_blank">#iAspire</a></li>
		
		<li>“You are connected with people who are ambitious and doing amazing research. It opens doors." // We're reminiscing about <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/ghc17?source=feed_text&amp;story_id=1626849440668858" target="_blank">#GHC17</a> through AiC Community Member Blakeley Hoffman who shared her thoughts on attending GHC in 2016. http://nbcnews.to/2yKHOjF</li>
		
		<li>“It's given me the confidence of knowing that there are people who care about issues such as water quality analysis, and that there is genuine interest in developing enterprise software for developing nations." // Congratulations to AiC Community Member Sharon Lin on winning the annual <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/builtbygirls?source=feed_text&amp;story_id=1624902790863523" target="_blank">#BuiltByGirls</a> startup challenge! Her app helps impoverished communities around the world more cheaply and easily find out whether their water supplies are contaminated with harmful bacteria. Way to go, Sharon! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/iaspire?source=feed_text&amp;story_id=1624902790863523" target="_blank">#iAspire</a> http://www.businessinsider.com/builtbygirls-contest-winner-tackling-water-quality-problems-2017-9</li>
		
		<li>“I noticed that a lot of my peers didn’t really enjoy STEM as much as I did. They were like, “Why do you like science? That’s such a boring subject.” I wanted to make them feel the same way that I do, or at least show them what I have seen. So I decided to bring my experiences from when I was a child to children who don’t necessarily have the same exposure.” Get inspired by AiC Community Member and <a href="http://www.girlscouts.org/en/about-girl-scouts/our-stories/girl-scouts/NYWOD/sharleen-l-revolutionizes-stem-education-in-southern-california.html#podium" target="_blank">Girl Scouts 2017 National Young Women of Distinction</a> recipient, Sharleen Loh. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/girl2017?source=feed_text&amp;story_id=1622053774481758" target="_blank">#GIRL2017</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/iaspire?source=feed_text&amp;story_id=1622053774481758" target="_blank">#iAspire</a></li>
		
		<li>“I’ve always been really into fashion. I’ve always worn big bows, sequins, and big tutus with all my friends. And I’ve always learned, from a young age, that fashion can really bring a group together. What I also noticed is that I was always really into STEM, but my girlfriends weren’t really into it as well. So what I decided to do was to combine the two [fashion and STEM] as a way to close the gender gap in STEM.” // Get to know AiC Community Member and <a href="http://www.girlscouts.org/en/about-girl-scouts/our-stories/girl-scouts/NYWOD/maureen-b-combines-love-for-fashion-and-stem-to-close-the-gender-gap.html#podium" target="_blank">Girl Scouts 2017 National Young Women of Distinction Recipient</a> Maureen (Reeny) Botros. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/girl2017?source=feed_text&amp;story_id=1621157517904717" target="_blank">#GIRL2017</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/iaspire?source=feed_text&amp;story_id=1621157517904717" target="_blank">#iAspire</a>.</li>
		
		<li>AiC Community Member Rian Walker shared her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/iaspire?source=feed_text&amp;story_id=1621073091246493" target="_blank">#iAspire</a> story with Forbes: “All of a sudden I was part of this community where there were thousands of girls who were into computer science and programming, who knew what I was talking, about and who I could relate to.” // We’re so proud of all you’ve done and seeing what the future has in store for you, Rian! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/ghc17?source=feed_text&amp;story_id=1621073091246493" target="_blank">#GHC17</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/ncwitatghc?source=feed_text&amp;story_id=1621073091246493" target="_blank">#NCWITatGHC</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=https://www.forbes.com/sites/geekgirlrising/2017/10/03/how-this-awards-program-in-tech-is-changing-girls-lives/&amp;refURL=https://www.facebook.com/&amp;referrer=https://www.facebook.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the entire Forbes article here.</a></li>
	
	</ul>
	
	&nbsp;

AiC Members - In The News! (October 2017)

<ul><li>If you are still trying to get into the groove of a new school year, AiC Community Member&nbsp;Liz Petrov&nbsp;is here to help. Her app, Class Reveal, lets you enter your class schedule, see your classmates, and share your social media handles. Thanks, Liz, for helping to make the school year less stressful! Check out the app <a href="https://www.classreveal.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</li><li>AiC Community Member&nbsp;Alexandra Marlette&nbsp;uses mentoring to conquer imposter syndrome. // “Many awful things happened my junior year of high school that made me seriously question going into computer science. Senior year, I quit all the technology clubs at my school and really tried to pull myself together, looking for the confidence and passion I had held for programming. I rediscovered these things by teaching two groups of middle school girls (one group with NCWIT AspireIt and one with the Girl Scouts). I'm now a second-year in college, and if I told you I didn't struggle still with imposter syndrome, I would be lying. However, being in college and bonding with the other women on my campus (we have like 10% women-identifying population), being active in [the Aspirations in Computing Community], and also now mentoring young women who are freshman STEM majors, has helped me make progress. The Dear World project came to my school asking for stories, and this is the one I chose. A mantra I hope to keep, and maybe a mantra for those still feeling lost in college regardless of major: YOU ARE TALENTED. NOT AN IMPOSTER.” // #iAspire</li><li>As part of our&nbsp;#iAspire&nbsp;campaign, AiC Community Member&nbsp;Briana Berger&nbsp;is sharing stories of AiC Community members from the past, present, and future! In today’s video, she takes a look back with past Winner and Stanford Student Shreya Shankar.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwMvZvkplAA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Watch here</a>.</li><li>Read AiC Community Member&nbsp;Annie Ostojic's&nbsp;#iAspire&nbsp;story: “I'm a candidate for 2018 Forbes&nbsp;#30Under30&nbsp;cohort for my energy innovations. As an NCWIT leader and supporter of women in technology, I thought that you would be happy to know that my work was based upon my design application computer skills using Autodesk Inventor and Maya in addition to coding skills with C++. It is so rewarding to know that my new-found computer skills are launching me to new heights! I know that it is difficult to get selected out of a pool of 15,000 Forbes candidates, especially as a 15-year-old, but I am crossing my fingers, and I am honored to have made it to the candidate pool. I know that I could not have created these innovations nor achieved Forbes candidacy without my computer technology skills.” // Keep innovating, Annie!</li><li>Roadtrip Nation’s “A Balanced Equation" premiered this month! Watch the journey of three aspiring&nbsp;#womeninSTEM, including two of our very own AiC Community members, Regina Lin and Elicia Dennis, in <a href="http://roadtripnation.com/roadtrip/women-in-stem" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">A Balanced Equation</a>.</li><li>“I was blessed to be awarded a grant to start an AspireIT program. This meant a lot to me because I was troubled by the lack of gender diversity in technology classes. Most of the technology classes in my school had no more than three girls. I sought an explanation for this and realized that girls are not exposed to technology like guys are, and the fear of the unknown, especially with the pressure of getting a good grade, keeps them from taking technology classes. I hope my program addresses this issue by introducing girls to computing in a friendly environment and showing them that they have the ability to succeed in this field as I had learned months earlier.” ~ AiC Community Member and&nbsp;AspireIT&nbsp;Team Leader Lydia F.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.girlsinspiredinc.org/connecting-passion-to-a-career/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the entire article.</a></li><li>We spy with our little eye, AiC Community Member&nbsp;Cassidy Williams&nbsp;and her love for computer science highlighted in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JByB4sn714" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this video</a>&nbsp;from NCWIT Academic Alliance Member Iowa State University.&nbsp;</li></ul>

AiC Members - In The News! (September 2017)

<ul><li>Remember the sparkly pink, tech-infused prom dress that AiC Community Member Claire Smith made last spring? Now, she's using it to inspire girls to get into tech. // “It shows girls that you can still be girly and code and to not be intimidated by the things you love. I want to bridge the gender gap. I’m trying to show girls that we are just as good as guys, if not better, at tech.” <a href="https://technical.ly/baltimore/2017/08/02/claire-smith-teen-fashion-coding-girls-who-code" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Learn more</a>.</li><li>Congratulations to AiC Community Member Blakeley Hoffman on being awarded a <a href="https://www.sc.edu/ofsp/news/2017-GEM.shtml" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">GEM National Consortium Fellowship</a>! The GEM program seeks to enhance the value of the nation's human capital by increasing the participation of underrepresented groups at the master's and doctoral levels in engineering and science. Way to go!&nbsp;</li><li>Did you know that AiC Community Member Kai Morton was the inspiration for Black Girls Code? <a href="http://www.nbcbayarea.com/on-air/as-seen-on/Black-Girls-Code_Bay-Area-438432543.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Check out her story</a>, which she shares with her mom, Black Girls Code Founder and NCWIT K-12 Alliance Member Representative Kimberly Bryant!&nbsp;</li><li>“Don’t give up! Look for support systems around you to help you figure out how to code and how to push through the tough times. Don’t let stereotypes define you.” // AiC Community Member Ilona Bodnar, along with 200 women engineers, including AiC Members DeNae Ford and Olivia Ross, shared what they’ve learned so far. <a href="https://code.likeagirl.io/we-interviewed-200-women-engineers-here-is-what-we-learnt-2f86c5ee0127" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read on to take in some of their lessons</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>“The lack of diagnosis is the biggest challenge. In India, there are programs that send doctors into villages and slums, but there are a lot of patients and only so many ophthalmologists. What if there were a cheap, easy way for local clinicians to find new cases and refer them to a hospital?” // AiC Community Member Kavya Kopparapu's “<a href="http://spectrum.ieee.org/the-human-os/biomedical/diagnostics/teenage-whiz-kid-invents-an-ai-system-to-diagnose-her-grandfathers-eye-disease" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">How I Spent My Summer Vacation</a>” story includes using her tech skills to diagnose diabetic retinopathy, a disease her grandfather in India has.&nbsp;</li><li>Not only is AiC Community Member Sharon Lin a Computer Science major at MIT AND New York City’s Youth Poet Laureate, she's also an advocate for girls in tech. // "Advocating and being a role model allows me to share this experience with other people and to show them that anything is possible for a girl in this field." <a href="https://studybreaks.com/2017/08/11/sharon-li-stands-up-for-women-in-poetry-technology/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read on for more about Sharon</a>.</li></ul>

AiC Members - In The News! (August 2017: Part 2)

<ul><li>“I want to show the girls that STEM is not a scary thing and it is a really good field to go into in the future.” // AiC Community Member Medha Aiyah is using her own love for STEM to inspire the next generation!&nbsp;(Article no longer available.)</li><li>Dr. Shalini Kesar and the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Southern Utah Affiliate share some facts about women in tech. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-D52OKdHGM&amp;feature=youtu.be" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Watch here</a>.</li><li>How about some words of wisdom from AiC Community Member and "Woman who Reigns"&nbsp;Liz Petrov: "Never feel stupid about yourself. Let’s face it — coding is hard, and most of the time it just doesn’t make any sense. But don’t let a small hiccup ruin computer science for you. Once you push through a problem, you learn so many valuable skills along the way — skills not only in technology, but in problem-solving and in courage. And one day you will learn enough to make your own app or to grow an idea, and who knows, maybe to even change the world." <a href="https://medium.com/@ReigningIt/women-who-reign-elizabeth-liz-petrov-bd0bac679a4d" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read more</a>.</li><li>Holy Cow! Ten out of these "<a href="https://onmogul.com/stories/50-high-schoolers-you-need-to-know" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">50 High Schoolers You Should Know</a>" are AiC Community Members! A huge congratulations to Catherine Yeo, Elizabeth Petrov, Joie Le, Akshara Anand, Kaylee George, Sharon Lin, Maia Dua, Anjali Gupta, Briana Berger, and Akshaya Dinesh. Way to rock it.&nbsp;</li><li>Our AiC Community never stops inspiring us with the amazing ways they keep finding to use technology to change the world. Case in point? Nikita Krishnan. She's using her love of technology and her love of animals to make a difference. <a href="http://92064magazine.com/2016/11/02/nikita-krishnan-uses-technology-to-help-animals-in-need/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read on to learn more</a>.</li></ul>&nbsp;

AiC Members - In The News! (August 2017: Part 1)

<ul><li>"Hopefully by the end of the three-day program, they will be able to make their own apps to help impact their community. So that kind of exposure, we're hoping will interest them to go toward this field and to seek other opportunities and seek that support and backing to encourage them to keep going in this field." AiC Community Member Saumya Rawat is using her AspireIT program as a way to empower girls in Dallas. <a href="http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Texas-Connects-Us-Inspiring-Girls-in-STEM-Education-425367293.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read on to find out how</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>Check out the highlights from 2017 Minnesota Aspirations in Computing Award Ceremony celebrating their local AiC Recipients and Educator award winner. Congratulations on an amazing event! <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAdy4iCZJzM" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Watch here</a>.</li><li>AiC Community Member Abril Vela offered some tips to get started on learning to code over the summer (no longer available).</li><li>We spied AiC Community Members Maya Varma and Christina Li on the FIRST Robotics home page! They’re FIRST Famous! Way to go. </li><li>“Use your resources. Follow up with everyone you meet. Ask for help. As you build these relationships, people will think more and more about you when opportunities come up.” // Get more tips on how to powerfully network your internship this summer from AiC Community Member Cassidy Williams (and others)! <a href="http://mailchi.mp/jkellyhoey/thebestcareernetworkingisntalwaysexternal-956113" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read on for more</a>.</li><li>"If you want to hear about women in tech who are changing the world, you do not need to look up a top ten list of famous entrepreneurs. In fact, many of the most inspiring females in the computing industry might be close to your age. I know... it sounds strange how people who are teenagers can be changing a whole group of people when it has been a certain way for a very long time. Well, times are changing and with groups like the National Center for Women and Information Technology, teens everywhere are able to make a difference in the tech world." // Thanks to AiC Community Member Emma Koslow for her inspiring words. <a href="http://www.codergirls.org/forum/other/females-in-tech" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read on for more.</a></li></ul>&nbsp;

AiC Members - In The News! (July 2017)

<ul><li>“We have a very narrow vision of what technology can enable right now because we have very low participation. I’m excited to see what people create when it’s no longer just the domain of the tech elite, what happens when we open this up, that’s what I want to be part of enabling." ~ Collegiate Award Winner Joy Buolamwini. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/may/28/joy-buolamwini-when-algorithms-are-racist-facial-recognition-bias" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read more</a>.</li><li>“Ever since I was a young girl, I have always dreamed of being an influential figure in STEM and inspiring others to do the same.” ~ AiC Community Member Anjali Gupta. <a href="https://reigningit.medium.com/women-who-reign-anjali-gupta-89dd5cf5569c" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read more</a>.</li><li>“For me, that’s the best thing we can do: allow young girls to see how it really is in the real world, instead of just talking about it.” // AiC Community Member Serena Davis looks back on high school and forward to college in the <a href="http://jewishjournal.com/culture/grads17/220147/serena-davis-champion-tech/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jewish Journal</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>We so excited to share the video from the recent Las Vegas Affiliate Award for Aspirations in Computing awards ceremony! Congratulations to all of the winners, and what an amazing event. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxzpzfNbG8w&amp;feature=youtu.be" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Watch the clip here</a>.</li><li>We spy a shout out to our Wyoming Affiliate Award for #NCWITAiC17&nbsp;winners! Congrats to everyone. <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/uw/news/2017/06/four-wyoming-high-school-female-students-honored-with-ncwit-awards.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read more</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>How did The Colbert Show inspire AiC Community Member Phoebe Taylor to pursue STEM? <a href="http://www.courant.com/community/glastonbury/hc-gr-0608-glastonbury-20170605-story.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read on to find out</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>“What I hope they learn is not only that they are able to create technology products, but that there are also other women that look like them in the technology industry. And, I also hope that they understand, that while they may not want to build websites later on in life, that technology is an integral part of their everyday life." ~ AiC Community Member and #AspireIT Leader Khalia Braswell on her recent #AspireIT camp. Way to go, Khalia! <a href="http://wncn.com/2017/06/16/camp-that-teaches-girls-to-code-build-websites-comes-to-raleigh-for-first-time/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the article here</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>Picture it: an app that rewards students for keeping their cell phones locked during the school day. Sounds like every teacher's dream, right? Well, AiC Community Members Shivani Vyas and Jenna Bousellam are making it a reality with their app, ChargerPoints. // "The goal of this app is to get the phones out of the students' hands; in class, in school, any time associated with school. So, we give points to students that are in class, school, not using their phones." <a href="https://www.tapinto.net/towns/milltown-slash-spotswood/articles/spotswood-high-school-students-create-app-that-re" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read more</a>.</li></ul>

AiC Members - In The News! (June 2017)

<ul><li>Did you know AiC Community Member Emma Koslow started coding at 6 years old, thanks to Scratch? <a href="https://medium.com/@ReigningIt/women-who-reign-emma-koslow-c2d787f46d88" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read on to learn more</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>“This is such an impressive group of young women, and we are honored to be recognizing their achievements,” said Emily Kerr, STEM Discovery Lab Coordinator at UNH Manchester, on this year's AiC Affiliate Award Winners from Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont (article no longer available).</li><li>"I realized that because of her background in STEM, my mom was able to support my family. I wanted to give other women this ability to support themselves and be independent, so I started my non-profit organization ThinkSTEAM to provide technology workshops for girls to teach them about STEM. By exposing girls to STEM at a younger age, I hope to impart knowledge in them to ignite their interest to pursue a career in STEM in the future." // Just in time for Mother's Day, learn more about how AiC Community Member Jothi Ramaswamy has been inspired by her mom. <a href="https://medium.com/@ReigningIt/women-who-reign-jothi-ramaswamy-133775d6f365" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read more</a>.</li><li>AiC Community Member and AspireIT Leader Claire Smith may just have the best prom dress, EVER. And she did it all with Adafruit's Flora, a few NeoPixels, and some help from other AiC Community members. <a href="http://mashable.com/2017/05/10/teen-adafruit-light-up-prom-dress/#86hawuJwsqqD" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read on and prepare to be dazzled</a>!&nbsp;</li><li>Hey! Is that AiC Community Members Amira Mouline, Catarina DeMatos, and Margaret Harrigan in their local paper? You bet! <a href="https://www.tapinto.net/towns/chatham/articles/chatham-high-students-win-aspirations-in-computin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read more</a>.</li><li>Collegiate Award Winner Joy Buolamwini talked with CNN about the bias found in AI. // “When you have a more diverse group of people making AI, it becomes easier to check for some of these blind spots. Who codes matters as well as how we’re coding and ultimately why we’re coding. Are we making inclusive technology?” // <a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/cnnmoney/2017/05/10/can-tech-be-biased-cnnmoney.cnnmoney" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Watch the entire clip here</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>Where does AiC Community Member Briana Berger find her inspiration? // “Personally, in terms of technology, Ada Lovelace, Margaret Hamilton, and Sheryl Sandberg show me that females can set their mind to whatever they want, despite societal expectations. Then, I’m extremely inspired by girls that I have met through NCWIT and Stanford’s include program, as each has a focus and a desire to make a change.” <a href="https://medium.com/@ReigningIt/women-who-reign-briana-berger-7118ca2e35ac" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read on for more</a>.&nbsp;</li></ul>

AiC Members - In The News! (May 2017)

<ul><li>“We all have stories to tell and we all have communities we love, let’s make technology for us and for those communities.” // We are so proud of AiC Community Member Kaya Thomas and her amazing app, “<a href="https://www.facebook.com/WeReadTooApp/?fref=mentions" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">We Read Too</a>.” <a href="http://bit.ly/2nKY9jj" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read More</a>.</li><li>“Whether it is technology used to track species, measure pollution, or engage people in new ways of thinking, she is keyed into the power of technology to transform our experience and understanding of the world.” ~ Computer Science Teacher Ben Smith on AiC Community Member Marguerite Tate (article no longer available).</li><li>AiC Community Member Akshara Anand spoke to her local news station, KXAN, about her AspireIT program, the STEMInnovation Club. Go, Akshara! <a href="http://kxan.com/2017/03/28/austin-high-schooler-working-to-change-computer-science-field/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read More</a>.</li><li>Congratulations to the all-AiC team (Katherine Mohr, Karina Halevy, Eileen Pan, and Catherine Yeo) on winning second place overall at HSHacks! Their winning project, Saluton, is a chatbot that helps individuals learn foreign languages through conversational learning deployed on Facebook messenger and coded using Javascript, Google Translate's API, and Gupshup. <a href="https://devpost.com/software/saluton-aiuqjf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read More</a>.</li><li>Congratulations to AiC Community Members Keren Herran and Alexandra Jung! Their team’s app, “NanoScience,” was selected as a winner in the Pitney Bowes STEM Education Challenge for the World Series of Innovation, out of more than 1,500 registered teams! "NanoScience" helps users to "learn about one or more STEM topics in a way that illustrates how that topic is important" (article no longer available).</li><li>“The people of Iowa State, my advisors, my professors, my peers, the staff, everyone, were to this day some of the nicest, warmest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. I know that I wouldn’t be where I am today without the empowering opportunities ISU presented to me.” // Congratulations to AiC Community Member Cassidy Williams on being named a 2017 Iowa STATEmentMaker! (Article no longer available.)</li></ul>

AiC Members - In The News! (April 2017)

<h3>The National Center for Women &amp; Information Technology (NCWIT) Selects Recipients of the 2017 NCWIT Collegiate Award</h3>NCWIT proudly announced the 2017 NCWIT Collegiate Award recipients, honoring eighteen college women for their outstanding technical accomplishments.View a complete list of the 2017 recipients at <a href="https://www.aspirations.org/be-inspired/2017-ncwit-collegiate-award-recipients" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.aspirations.org/be-inspired/2017-ncwit-collegiate-award-recipients</a>.Each year, U.S. college women enrolled as an undergraduate (at a two- or four-year institution) or a graduate student pursuing a degree in computer science at an <a href="http://www.ncwit.org/aa" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NCWIT Academic Alliance</a> (AA) member institution are eligible to receive recognition for their technical contributions to projects that demonstrate a high level of creativity and potential impact. This year, six winners and 12 honorable mentions were selected from more than 60 talented women from more than 25 states, all of whom developed awe-inspiring projects for improving and solving real-world problems in medicine, software systems, personal safety, and more.Thanks to the generous support of Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Qualcomm, each recipient receives an engraved award, up to $10,000 in cash, a trip to the 2017 NCWIT Summit on Women and IT, computing resources, gadgets, sponsor-branded swag, and more.&nbsp;

Eighteen Women Are Honored for Their Contributions to Impactful Technological Solutions

We are so proud of the large number of AiC Community Members who were winners of the 2016 Congressional App Challenge! Over the coming weeks, we’ll highlight some of their amazing winning apps. They’re all celebrating in Washington D.C. today at the&nbsp;<a href="https://houseofcode.splashthat.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reception and demo day</a>.Meet the winners from the AiC Community and their amazing winning apps:&nbsp;<ul><li>Caroline Gschwend - AR-03 Rep. Steve Womack: Caroline Gschwend for the app, <a href="https://youtu.be/YjBe90OEInA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">defendUS</a></li><li>Jasmine Steele - CA-11 Rep. Mark DeSaulnier: Jasmine Steele for the app, <a href="https://youtu.be/LibdBigpr5g" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ALLERGY BLAST</a></li><li>Kaitlyn Chan - CA-14 Rep. Jackie Speier: Kaitlyn Chan for the app, <a href="https://youtu.be/o-vXDNS1mIs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pocket Doctor</a></li><li>Victoria Juan - CA-26 Rep. Julia Brownley: Victoria Juan for the app, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4vlKqchBKo&amp;feature=youtu.be" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jerd</a></li><li>Bianca Cea - MD-02 Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger: Bianca Cea. for the app, <a href="https://youtu.be/p2pc5FDClMo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cravings</a></li><li>Hannah Cole - MA-04 Rep. Joe Kennedy III: Hannah Cole for the app, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYVjfJR9Ers" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Homework Helper</a></li><li>Sharon Lin - NY-10 Rep. Jerrold Nadler: Sharon Lin for the app, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_hfi1_WVpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">iVOTE</a></li><li>Sneha Malineni - OR-01 Rep. Suzanne Bonamici: Sneha Malineni for the app, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqQgHZusZdE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Forget Me Not</a></li><li>Isabela Munera - TX-07 Rep. John Culberson: Isabela Munera&nbsp;for the app, <a href="https://youtu.be/39o6waatRuM" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Recyclearn</a></li><li>Briana Berger - FL-03 Rep. Ted Yoho: Briana Berger for the app, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ_jszhfPkg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SleepBeep</a></li><li>Rachel Naidich - VA-08 Rep. Don Beyer: Rachel Naidich for the app, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yszEIdvgjxg&amp;feature=youtu.be" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Robot Invasion</a></li><li>Rachel Auslander - FL-22 Rep. Lois Frankel: Rachel Auslander for the app, <a href="https://youtu.be/CcZsfqh4-IY" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Local Vote</a></li></ul>

In The News: Congressional App Challenge Edition

Have you ever wondered what The&nbsp;NCWIT Aspirations in Computing National Awards Ceremony weekend is like?&nbsp;Well, 2017 National Aspirations in Computing Award Winner,&nbsp;Kavya Kopparapu,&nbsp;Founder, and CEO of&nbsp;<a href="http://girlscomputingleague.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">GirlsComputingLeague.org</a>&nbsp;shared the inside scoop on what it’s like traveling to Charlotte, NC for the weekend of a lifetime on her <a href="https://compscikavya.wordpress.com/2017/03/06/ncwit-aic-national-awards/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">website</a>.After attending the&nbsp;Technology Stars of the Future Showcase &amp; Awards Ceremony&nbsp;as a 2017 NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing National Winner, AiC Community Member&nbsp;Olivia R. Colombo&nbsp;was inspired to share her experience on her&nbsp;website&nbsp;as well (no longer available).

In The News: Technology Stars of the Future Showcase & Awards Ceremony

<ul><li>The only thing we love more than bragging about our AiC Community members is watching their communities brag about them! Congratulations Jennifer King, Jaclyn Windorff, Anja Schwobe, and Jordan Main! You give New Berlin a good name. <a href="http://bit.ly/2lASJ9p" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2lASJ9p</a></li><li>Did you catch this shout-out to AiC Community Member Kenzie Flinn? Way to go, Kenzie!&nbsp;<a href="http://bit.ly/2kJM80f" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2kJM80f</a></li><li>“If we can connect computer science to things they are passionate about, like dance and music, then we can motivate them to go into computing.” // 2017 Award for AiC Recipient Briana Berger wants to share her love of computing with others (article no longer available). </li><li>“Technology is pervasive and presents both risks and opportunities to every industry. Being recognized with the NCWIT award makes these students a role model for other young women and shines a spotlight on women and computing.” // SDNB Superintendent Joe Garza shares some thoughts on AiC Community Members Jennifer King, Jaclyn Windorff, Anja Schwobe, and Jordan Main! Congratulations to all of you! <a href="http://bit.ly/2kJACSe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2kJACSe</a></li><li>AiC Community Member Briana Berger was featured on her very own local WUFT news! The #NCWITAiC17 award is just the beginning for her… </li><li>“They say that getting an MIT education is like ‘drinking from a firehose,’ and I think that high-intensity environment helped me remain sharp under the pressure of the tournament.” // We’re so excited for AiC Community Member Lilly Chin, winner of the 2017 Jeopardy College Tournament of Champions! Go, Lilly! (article no longer available)</li><li>"Anything you do can be tied back to code." // Meet AiC Community Member Kai Morton, and prepare to be inspired.&nbsp;<a href="http://bit.ly/2lOzV9F" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2lOzV9F</a></li><li>Congratulations to all 32 Minnesota Award for AiC recipients being honored this year, including two national winners and six honorable mentions. And, did we mention two Educator Award winners as well? Go, Minnesota! <a href="http://bit.ly/2m46lug" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2m46lug</a></li></ul>

AiC Members - In The News! (March 2017)

<ul><li>“She brings a strong female presence to the robot design team and is paving the way for other girls on the Bomb Squad to get more involved in the robot. Anna noticed a lack of female interested in our community for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) activities. So she took it on herself to create and mentor a robotics team for sixth through eighth-grade girls.” // Jackie Meissner, High School EAST Facilitator, talks about AiC Community Member Anna Fisher. We’re proud to have you in the community, Anna! <a href="http://bit.ly/2lMVNTS" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2lMVNTS</a></li><li>“My interest in bringing ideas to life and bringing devices together in an augmented reality has truly inspired me to pursue my passion in computer science.” // Get to know AiC Community Member Cindy Kohlleppel in her Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls profile. Go, Cindy! <a href="http://bit.ly/2m487eO" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2m487eO</a></li><li>“One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.” ~ Helen Keller // AiC Community Member Cassidy Williams shares some of her favorite inspirational quotes to live by. What are yours? <a href="http://bit.ly/2kEizK9" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2kEizK9</a></li><li>We love catching local shout-outs to our Award for AiC recipients! Like this one to Stephanie Fu! Way to rock it, Stephanie! (article no longer available)</li><li>“Learning to code has also given me skills to give back to my community and change the world. People who are deaf can hear because of code. People who need help can call emergency services because of code. Computer science is a transforming agent for our society.” // 2017 National AiC Award Winner Briana Berger shares why she loves to code (article no longer available).</li><li>“I realized that my passions lied in helping students learn through technology, and I wanted to dedicate 100% of my time to that. Around the middle of junior year, I graduated early to devote all of my time towards doing so.” // AiC Community Member Gemma Busoni shared the story of her unconventional college path. <a href="http://bit.ly/2m4gfMg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2m4gfMg</a>&nbsp;</li></ul>

AiC Members - In The News! (February 2017)

<ul><li>AiC Community Member Paige Moore has served as her high school robotics team’s builder, programmer, electrician, and driver -- receiving three varsity letters for her efforts! It's no wonder they named her Student of the Month. Go, Paige!&nbsp;</li><li>"I'm honored to receive this recognition, and I'll use the prize to continue my mission to show compassion through computation." We are still beaming about AiC Community Member Joy Buolamwini winning the “<a href="http://bit.ly/2kaaFXt" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">search for Hidden Figures</a>” contest!&nbsp;</li><li>Meet Jennifer Martinez, #NCWITAiC17 national winner and future computing engineer. Congratulations, and welcome to the AiC Community:&nbsp;<a href="http://bit.ly/2jAnQny" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2jAnQny</a></li><li>“I’m proud of where I come from, and I am very humble for the opportunity. I feel this recognition was well-deserved because I’ve come a long way.” // We're also proud of #NCWITAiC17 National Honorable Mention Jalicia Smalley. Congratulations!</li><li>Do YOU know the difference between a soldering iron and a wrench? You will... after the end of your FIRST robotics season. AiC Community Member Niharika Agrawal wants to tell you about 13 more things you'll learn (article no longer available).</li><li>Say hello to #NCWITAiC17 National Honorable Mentions Gillian Vaughn and Skylar Smith! Welcome to the AiC Community! (article no longer available)</li><li>#DYK AiC Community Member Elizabeth Wang spent last summer interning at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the Computing Division and is now working on a self-driving car algorithm that she hopes to patent in the future? Go, Elizabeth, and congratulations on being named an #NCWITAiC17 national honorable mention! // <a href="http://bit.ly/2jALjpB" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2jALjpB</a></li><li>"We couldn't be more proud of Olivia. As a lead student in our STEAM curriculum, she has embraced these opportunities and truly represents the best of Sacred Heart." // ~Sacred Heart School President Sister Myra Rodgers on #NCWITAiC17 National Winner Olivia Colombo // <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F2hOT2zP&amp;h=ATM8FLXhNz7-wMcbj09ZtiQKl5yDWXkkHslItt3MDA9mLoi10qKtR6DWTWVBvPo5upxxM_BsJYFxNaVYi11DUVxbRc9U9Q4M8rnbuOguMUIBa6GVkFaEUHHXd4LB4hY-GgDYvsZMtuVtR5HkN0bixcPPog&amp;enc=AZOIc_CVS_xaIZ_kvMAOgCOaQ_gOlc5EYAqDb2mIw-AifoT1yXPEkN2CnXj6y4nU9QpPqMXuZ871TsaFja2hX4WhTzl5hRrl5OCMvBYshW2LVnQVczlYphkFXASug_xMVdG84MTifN3skNdIzLW9YG1wpGUkT73yORMk-D2DKWjafi0aIOAOHScBG5kXw7vVjgGHE8qTJL1G2p68s9HzvqIx&amp;s=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2hOT2zP</a></li><li>Joy Buolamwini’s "Bloomertech Smart Bra Mobile Application" is the amazing project that won her an NCWIT Collegiate Award. Now, her “Algorithmic Justice League” has helped her win “The Search for Hidden Figures” contest! We are so proud of Joy and her work fighting bias in machine learning. #NotHiddenAnymore // <a href="http://bit.ly/2jIW2hB" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2jIW2hB</a></li></ul>

AiC Members - In The News! (January 2017 #2)

<ul><li>“In addition to showing my brothers and sister that you can have whatever you want if you believe in God and have faith, I’ve always charged myself with being the change I wish to see in the community -- right now that change is the technology industry.” // We’re not surprised to see AiC Community Member&nbsp;Khalia Braswell&nbsp;listed <a href="http://bit.ly/2i76rzr" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>!&nbsp;</li><li>"What does a student coding in a white mask have in common with a New Zealand man struggling with a passport photo? Both individuals found themselves on the wrong side of computational decisions." AiC Community Member&nbsp;Joy Buolamwini&nbsp;explains <a href="http://bit.ly/2hFrL1s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/codedgaze?source=feed_text&amp;story_id=1349624461724692" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#CodedGaze</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>“Nothing feels better than sitting down and typing out a line of code and running it. This is why I am very determined to pursue a career in STEM.” ~ AiC Community Member, and future Katherine Johnson,&nbsp;Rebecca Taylor.&nbsp;</li><li>“I want to be like Katherine Johnson because I've always had a love for the tech world ever since I got involved in video games such as World of Warcraft and a variety of other MMORPGS at a young age.” // We spy AiC Community Member&nbsp;Kai Morton, featured as a future Katherine Johnson. We couldn’t agree more!&nbsp;</li><li>AiC Community Member Joy Buolamwini gave a <a href="http://bit.ly/2hXkgk0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TEDx talk</a> on the formation of the Algorithmic Justice League. Are you ready to fight the coded gaze?&nbsp;</li><li>“(I want) to expand the community of technology culture,” said AiC Community Member&nbsp;Moya Ly. She and fellow AiC Community Member Emily Wang teamed up to start the “<a href="http://cin.ci/2hfSKOT" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">you.code () Programming Club for Girls</a>.” Way to go, Moya and Emily!&nbsp;</li><li>AiC Community Member&nbsp;Jasmine Lee&nbsp;talks about her passion for STEM and her efforts to interest others in STEM on an "<a href="http://bit.ly/2hr0XzL" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Education Today</a>" segment on NBC4's Daytime Columbus show. Go, Jasmine!&nbsp;</li><li>“Consistently being the only black woman in the room felt like a responsibility, and that pressure was exhausting. However, over the years of interning out in the Bay Area and now having moved here, things are much better because I’ve found a community. I no longer feel alone, because I’ve surrounded myself with friends and mentors that I know I can always lean on.” // AiC Community Member&nbsp;Mopewa&nbsp;Ogundipe&nbsp;talks about her experiences being a POC in tech with <a href="http://bit.ly/2hg1uVc" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">People of Color In Tech</a>.&nbsp;</li></ul>

AiC Members - In The News! (January 2017 #1)

<img src="https://ncwit-aspirations-service-stage-public.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ncwitaicaward_logo_fullcolor_web_elementspage.png" alt="Award for AiC Logo" style="float:right; width:250px"><h3>The National Center for Women &amp; Information Technology (NCWIT) Selects National Recipients of the 2017 NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing (AiC)</h3>NCWIT proudly announced the 2017 <a href="https://www.aspirations.org/award-programs/apply-for-the-award-for-aic" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NCWIT Award for AiC</a> national recipients, honoring four hundred women in high school from all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and all U.S. overseas military bases.Each year, U.S. high school women in grades 9 through 12 are eligible to receive recognition for their demonstrated interest and achievements in computing, proven leadership ability, academic performance, and plans for post‑secondary education. This year, 50 winners and 350 honorable mentions were selected from more than 3,500 amazing, talented young women.Thanks to the generous support of NCWIT Award for AiC National Sponsor Bank of America, each of the 50 national award winners receive various prizes, cash, and a trip to Bank of America headquarters on March 3-5, 2017 for a celebration and networking with Bank of America employees.View a complete list of the 2017 national winners here: <a href="http://bit.ly/17HSwinners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/17HSwinners</a>. A complete list of 2017 honorable mentions are available here: <a href="http://bit.ly/17HSmentions" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/17HSmentions</a>.The NCWIT Award for AiC is sponsored by Apple, Bank of America, Microsoft, Motorola Solutions Foundation, and Symantec.&nbsp;

Four Hundred U.S. High School Women Are Recognized for Technological Achievements

<ul><li>“Proud of our Champions of Change -- folks who prove that, here in America, there's no more powerful role than that of citizen.” // President Obama <a href="http://bit.ly/2h2NVZf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">celebrated the Champions of Change</a> last week, including many of our AiC Community Members. We are proud of all the great work that they do!&nbsp;</li><li>“Being a Black Muslim woman, my narrative has always been reflected in politics, but not necessarily in the way that I’d like it to be. I got really into politics and picked it up as a minor. Then, I figured that there was a way I could combine the two when I attended Grace Hopper for the first time last year, last October.” // AiC Community Member Fadumo Osman <a href="http://bit.ly/2gNtcrV" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">talked with </a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pocintech/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">People of Color In Tech</a> about how she is meshing politics and computer science to take control of her narrative and story.&nbsp;</li><li>“I thought of this idea of how to protect people’s rights, but also, at the same time, protect people in public areas.” // AiC Community Member Nastasia Efremkina was moved after the events in Sandy Hook to <a href="http://bit.ly/2gNpZbP" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">create a firearm tracker</a> as a way to prevent similar tragedies. She received the patent for it earlier this year. Inspiring work, Anastasia!&nbsp;</li><li>What does 85-year-old Stan Jones, a senior principal communications engineer, have in common with 16-year-old Kavya Kopparapu, a high school biomedical statistical research intern and AiC Community Member?<a href="http://bit.ly/2g0rnqV" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> More than you might think.</a></li><li>Congratulations to AiC Community Members Lauren Thomas and Kimberly Do on being selected as winners in the <a href="http://bit.ly/2gHNk2u" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2016 National STEM Video Game Challenge</a>!&nbsp;</li></ul>

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