Kiarra K.

Kiarra is a senior at Normal Community West High School and Heartland Community College, where she will earn both a high school diploma and an Associate’s Degree in Computer Science by May 2025. As a State Farm Scholar and part of the Associate’s Degree Program (ADP) at her school, Kiarra has completed various computer science projects, including developing a board game in Python, creating an Arduino-powered soda machine in C++, and founding a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching computer science fundamentals to younger generations. In addition to her technical accomplishments, Kiarra is passionate about mentoring and served as a STEM Mentor at Oakdale Elementary School, introducing students to coding through interactive projects and hands-on applications like LittleBits. She is actively involved in Girls Who Code, STEM Sisterhood, STEM Club, and the Computer Science Honor Society, showcasing her commitment to advancing technology education within her community. After graduation, Kiarra plans to attend a four-year university to major in computer science with a minor in psychology. Her ultimate career goal is to become a technical analyst for the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) and later a special agent at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).