Computer Science Education Week (Dec 7-13, 2015)

Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) takes place December 7-13, 2015 to coincide with the birthday of Admiral Grace Hopper, a pioneer in the field of computer science who was born on December 9, 1906. CSEdWeek was first recognized in 2010 when the 111th Congress passed House Resolution 1560. The goal of CSEdWeek is to introduce students to computing and show them that the world of technology is for everyone.

Computer science is often present in informal curricula but is absent from mainstream education. Additionally, according to Code.org, "25 states still don't allow students to count computer science courses toward high school graduation." These facts impact all students, and especially girls.

As noted in one of NCWIT's most popular resources, 'Girls In IT: The Facts,' "girls comprise 56% of all Advanced Placement (AP) but only 19% of AP computer science test-takers."

Exposure to computer science is critical, as the U.S. Bureau of Labor predicts that in the coming decade some of the best and highest-paying jobs will be in IT. For these reasons and more, CSEdWeek provides an opportunity to introduce students to computer science, using fun and engaging activities.

NCWIT Seeks High School Girls for Aspirations in Computing Award

The NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing honors high school women who are active and interested in computing and technology, and encourages them to pursue their passions. BDPA Cincinnati student member Hadiya Harrigan won this national award in 2014.  This multi-tiered competition includes recognition at the national level (sponsored by Bank of America) and at the local level (sponsored by Microsoft).

Criteria and Eligibility

BDPAer Hadiya Harrigan won in 2014

Any U.S. high school woman with computing aspirations is eligible and encouraged to apply: NCWIT recognizes aspirations as well as accomplishments. Aspirations Award recipients are chosen for their outstanding aptitude and interest in computing, proven leadership ability, academic performance, and plans for post-secondary education. For more detailed information, please visit www.aspirations.org/faqs.

Prizes

Each award recipient receives recognition at an award event, scholarship and internship opportunities, access to a peer network of technical young women in the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Community (sponsored by Bloomberg), and various other prizes — computing resources, gadgets, sponsor swag, engraved awards and certificates, and more. Additionally, National Award recipients receive:

• $500 in cash
• a laptop computer
• a trip to attend the Bank of America Technology Showcase and Awards Ceremony in Charlotte, North Carolina on March 6, 2016
• networking opportunities with Bank of America employees

Students can apply online at http://bit.ly/AiCHSAward no later than 8:00 p.m. EST on October 26, 2015.

NCWIT's Accepting Applications from Technical Young Women

The NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing honors young women who are active and interested in computing and technology, and encourages them to pursue their passions. BDPA Cincinnati student member Hadiya Harrigan won this national award in 2014.  This multi-tiered competition includes recognition at the national level (sponsored by Bank of America) and at the local level (sponsored by Microsoft), serving 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Criteria and Eligibility

BDPAer Hadiya Harrigan won in 2014

Any U.S. high school woman with computing aspirations is eligible and encouraged to apply: NCWIT recognizes aspirations as well as accomplishments. Aspirations Award recipients are chosen for their outstanding aptitude and interest in computing, proven leadership ability, academic performance, and plans for post-secondary education. For more detailed information, please visit www.aspirations.org/faqs.

Prizes

Each award recipient receives recognition at an award event, scholarship and internship opportunities, access to a peer network of technical young women in the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Community (sponsored by Bloomberg), and various other prizes — computing resources, gadgets, sponsor swag, engraved awards and certificates, and more. Additionally, National Award recipients receive:

• $500 in cash
• a laptop computer
• a trip to attend the Bank of America Technology Showcase and Awards Ceremony in Charlotte, North Carolina on March 7, 2015
• an engraved award for both the student and her school
• networking opportunities with Bank of America employees

Students can apply online at http://bit.ly/AiCHSAward no later than 11:59 p.m. EST on November 2, 2014.

BDPA Student Wins National Aspirations in Computing Award

Hadiya Harrigan, senior at Seven Hills Upper School, has been selected as one of 35 high school students in the United States to receive the 2014 Aspirations in Computing award. The National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT) selected Hadiya from a diverse applicant pool of more than 2,300 students.

Hadiya has been very active in the BDPA Cincinnati chapter for several years. She participated in our High School Computer Camp, national competitions, and most recently received a sponsored internship with Luxottica. She won the 2013 Oracle Scholarship for BDPA Students as well.

BDPA is extremely excited about Hadiya's achievement and wait anxiously for what is next to come.

“Congratulations to our very own Hadiya Harrigan on her being awarded the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing award! Hadiya represents the all that is valuable for those volunteers and corporate sponsors who invest in BDPA programs that take our students from the classroom to the boardroom”, said BDPA Cincinnati chapter president Dalric Webb. “Hadiya’s personal drive, ambition, and talent are a perfect complement for the BDPA SITES and STEM based initiatives. As a chapter, we endeavor to continue to support Hadiya and all of our students and members in reaching their full potential and advancing their personal careers in the technology space”.

Since 2007, the Award for Aspirations in Computing has recognized more than 2,200 young women; more than 71 percent of the recipients currently in college report majoring or minoring in a traditionally male-dominated STEM field. The Award for Aspirations in Computing is a component of NCWIT Aspirations in Computing, a talent development initiative designed to increase female participation in technology by providing structured, long-term engagement and support from middle school through high school and from college into the workforce. The Aspirations in Computing Award is supported nationally by AT&T, Bank of America, Bloomberg, and Microsoft.

Related articles

• Cincinnati.com, 1/6/2014 (Hadiya Harrigan)
• Testimonial: BDPA Summer Internship (Hadiya Harrigan, Cincinnati)
• Cincinnati.com, 6/30/2013 (Hadiya Harrigan, Brian Pulliam)

BDPA's Hadiya Harrigan Wins NCWIT Ohio Award for Aspirations in Computing

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation congratulates Hadiya Harrigan for being selected as a 2012-2013 winner of the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing Ohio Affiliate. Hadiya competed in the 2011 and 2012 National BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championships as a member of the team trained by BDPA Cincinnati chapter.  She is currently a senior at Seven Hills Upper School in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The NCWIT Award for Aspirations recognized Hadiya for her computing-related aspirations and for her demonstrated, outstanding aptitude and interest in information technology/computing; solid leadership ability; good academic history; and plans for post-secondary education.  Not only did Hadiya win the award for the state of Ohio ... she was also named a National Award runner-up.


BDPA Cincinnati HSCC coordinator Frank Hill wrote,

"I have watched Hadiya grow rapidly from beginner to high proficiency in both Information Technology and leadership. Hadiya demonstrated exceptional technology skills during 2012 by first completing an 32-week advanced IT training course and then serving as the project manager and lead developer for the Cincinnati HSCC team that finished in 7th place (out of 45 eligible BDPA chapters).

Hadiya has developed technical skills in database design; JavaScript programming; ASP.NET Programming; Visual Basic Programming; HTML; SQL; Web Application Design and User Interface Layout. Haydia used her skills to teach and coach fellow students.

Hadiya has a bright future in technology and any other endeavor that she undertakes."

The Ohio NCWIT Affiliate will make the official presentation to Hadiya and her family at an award ceremony on Saturday, May 11, 2013. In the meantime, I encourage all of BDPA-Nation to tip our caps to Hadiya Harrigan. We're very proud of her for winning this award!

BDPA Twin Cities Students Strive for 'Aspirations in Computing Award'

Sifora Tek-Lab is a junior at Eastview High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Gabriella Knight is a freshman at the University of Minnesota. Both of these young ladies have been part of the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program hosted by our BDPA Twin Cities chapter over the past three years. In fact, Sifora was part of the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) team that took home 5th place in the 2012 National BDPA HSCC championship held recently in Baltimore.

Sifora is on far-right as member of 2012 HSCC Team

We are very proud to note that Sifora and Gabriella are both competing for the national 'Aspirations in Computing Award' given out by the National Center for Women and Information Technology.  The award goes to deserving young women that are engaged in a variety of technology programs ... such as SITES. Both young women were recently supported in their 'Aspiration Award' efforts by the IT community in Minneapolis.

Learn more from the following video of an interview conducted by local television station, KARE-12 back on October 20, 2012:



Please take a moment to POST YOUR COMMENT as encouragement to these two remarkable BDPA student members!

NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing

Calling all digital divas, web chix, and coder girls!

The National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) is a coalition of more than 200 corporations, academic institutions, government agencies and nonprofits working to increase women’s participation in IT. 

NCWIT seeks high-school-level young women to apply for the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing! The NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing honors young women active and interested in computing and encourages them to pursue their passion for technology. 

Brandee Lyles

BDPA Columbus student member Brandee Lyles was a regional winner last year!   My hope is that all of our digital divas who participated in the recent 2011 National BDPA High School Computer Competition championship will take a moment to submit an application for this award.

Winners get cool prizes, gadgets, and scholarships, and can join a community of like-minded technical women. National award-winners are selected from across the country and Affiliate Award competitions are available in more than 30 regions nationwide.  All girls at all computing levels are encouraged to apply -- NCWIT wants to recognize aspirations, not just accomplishments!

National award-winners receive:

·      $500 in cash

·      A laptop computer

·      An engraved award (for both the student and her school)

·      An expenses-paid trip to the national Award ceremony (for the student and her parent/guardian)

Affiliate Awards will vary by state. 

Competition for the 2012 NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing is open to any U.S. high-school-level female (grades 9-12). Applications will be accepted beginning September 15, 2011, and must besubmitted online by October 31, 2011.

For information on hosting an affiliate event contact Ruthe Farmer, ruthe.farmer@colorado.edu.

HSCC Alumni Brandee Lyles Wins NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing

This blog told you about the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing a few months ago. This is an award that honors young women at the high-school level for their computing-related achievements and interests. Awardees are selected for their computing and IT aptitude, leadership ability, academic history, and plans for post-secondary education. The NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing offers both a national and local "affiliate" competitions (including statewide in Ohio) to generate support and visibility for women participation in communities nationwide.

I ended that blog post with a simple question, "Will we have any BDPA student members applying for this award this year?"

The answer came from a young lady named Brandee Lyles. She was a member of the BDPA Columbus national team at the 2010 High School Computer Competition (HSCC). Brandee is one of just 10 young women selected for the NCWIT Award from the state of Ohio. All of BDPA-nation will be cheering her on April 2 in Columbus, Ohio when she will be honored for her remarkable technology talents.

Congratulations Brandee!

NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing

The NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing honors young women at the high-school level for their computing-related achievements and interests. There are scores of young women participating in BDPA youth education programs all over the nation. My hope is that our BDPA chapter leaders will make a point of nominating their top female high school computer competition (HSCC) alumni for this award!

Awardees are selected for their computing and IT aptitude, leadership ability, academic history, and plans for post-secondary education. The NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing offers both a national and local "affiliate" competitions (including statewide in Ohio and locally in Cincinnati) to generate support and visibility for women's participation in communities nationwide.

PLEASE help us spread the word about this competition with any K-12 or groups who serve young high school women! As part of an effort to encourage more young women to choose careers in technology, the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) seeks to recognize high school women with outstanding achievements and aspirations in computing and technology through the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing.

National Award-winners receive:

• $500 in cash
• a laptop computer, provided by Bank of America
• a trip to attend the Bank of America Technology Showcase and Awards Ceremony in Charlotte, North Carolina
• an engraved award for both the student and the student's school

• a range of great prizes from local sponsors.

You can find a location on the online map provided by NCWIT. Young women in grades 9-12 interested in computing and technology are STRONGLY encouraged to apply.

Applications open TODAY, Monday, September 13, 2010. Check out the Preparing Your Application guide to learn more about the application process and information needed. Instructions are also available in Spanish!

Will we have any BDPA student members applying for this award this year?

NCWIT 'Aspirations in Computing' Applications for High School Women (Due Date: 10/15/2010)

The National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) is a coalition of more than 200 corporations, academic institutions, government agencies and nonprofits working to increase women’s participation in IT. Each year NCWIT’s “aspirations in computing” awards honor high school women for their computing-related achievements and interests.

Awardees are selected for computing and IT aptitude, leadership ability, academic history and plans for post-secondary education. Sponsors include Bank of America, the Motorola Foundation, Microsoft and Google.

Students can apply for the awards between September 6 and October 15, 2010. The 2011 national awards ceremony will take place next March 1 at Bank of America HQ in Charlotte, NC. More information, applications and a listing of competitions are available at http://www.ncit.org/.

In addition to the national awards program, a growing series of affiliate awards with regional and local partners is planned. For information on hosting an affiliate event contact Ruthe Farmer, ruthe.farmer@colorado.edu.

National Computer Science Education Week

The U.S. House of Representatives recently designated December 6–12, 2009 as Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) in recognition of the transformative role of computing and necessity of rigorous computer science education at all levels.

The CSEdWeek website launches the week of Dec. 6 to be a hub for computer science education resources and social networking.

The development of CSEdWeek is a joint effort led by Association of Computer Machinery with the cooperation and deep involvement of the Computer Science Teachers Association, the Computing Research Association, the National Center for Women & Information Technology, the Anita Borg Institute, the National Science Foundation, Google, Intel, and Microsoft.

Women in IT: The Facts

Women in IT: The Facts, sponsored by National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT), brings together the latest findings from recent research on technical women.

This report gives you:

• A "coherent story" about the current state of affairs for technical women, synthesizing the best available data into one, easy-to-access resource


• An overall summary of the key barriers to women's participation in technology AND promising practices for addressing these barriers


• A benchmark for measuring the effects of national industry efforts to increase women's participation


• Data and tools that support your organization's change efforts

DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT

NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing

Applications are open now through November 15, 2009 for the 2010 NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing!

The NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing recognizes young women at the high-school level for their computing-related achievements and interests. By generating visibility for these young women in their local communities, the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing encourages their continued interest in computing, attracts the attention and support of educational and corporate institutions, and emphasizes at a personal level the importance of women's participation.

I encourage all female high school students in the BDPA family to apply now for the 2010 NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing. All US high school young women (grades 9-12) are invited to apply.

The application is completed online and includes essay-style questions. Download the preparing your application checklist for all the information you will need to complete the application process. Applicants will have until November 15, 2009 to complete their applications.

Awardees are selected for their demonstrated, outstanding aptitude and interest in information technology/computing; solid leadership ability; good academic history; and plans for post-secondary education.

Each qualified national awardee will receive:

1. $500 in cash


2. laptop computer, provided by Bank of America


3. a trip to attend the Bank of America Technology Showcase and Awards Ceremony, March 27, 2010, held in Charlotte, North Carolina


4. an engraved award for both the student and the student's school

Through a generous grant from the Motorola Foundation, there will be additional Affiliate Award programs in Texas, Illinois & Florida. The application period is the same and students who apply from these states will be entered into both the local and national competitions. Affiliate award prize packages will vary by location.

Please contact Ruthe Farmer by phone (303.735-5578) or email if you have questions or wish to discuss further.

NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing

Nominations for the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) Award for Aspirations in Computing are due April 30.

Sponsored by Bank of America, the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing recognizes young women at the high-school level for their computing-related achievements and interests. By generating visibility for these young women in their local communities, the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing encourages their continued interest in computing, attracts the attention and support of educational and corporate institutions, and emphasizes at a personal level the importance of women's participation.

This is truly an excellent opportunity for BDPA members and supporters in the greater metropolitan areas of Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas and New York City to support high-school girls that might benefit from this award.. Preference will be given to students who are high school juniors and seniors during the 2007-2008 academic year. Please see the complete Award Information Sheet for further details.

Do you know anyone that might qualify for this award?