Last modified: Thursday, October 11, 2012
IU-led coalition, NCWIT announce third annual computing competition for state's high school girls
Scholarships, prize money will be awarded to competition winners
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 11, 2012
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The National Center for Women & Information Technology, along with an Indiana University-led consortium of universities and corporations, has kicked off the third annual Indiana Aspirations in Computing Award competition for Indiana high school girls in Grades 9 to 12.
Twenty young women will be recognized for their computing-related achievements and interests in a competition that is part of a nationwide effort spearheaded by NCWIT to generate visibility for women's participation in the field of computing and ultimately to encourage more young women to choose careers in technology. Winners are acknowledged for their outstanding aptitude and interest in technology and computing, leadership ability, academic history and plans for post-secondary education.
To enter, students should submit an application online by Oct. 31. Winners will be notified in early December and will be honored at an awards celebration at OneAmerica Headquarters in Indianapolis in January 2013. All young women in Grades 9 to 12 in Indiana are eligible to enter. Each winner will receive $250, scholarship opportunities from several computing departments throughout the state of Indiana, engraved plaques for themselves and their school, a T-shirt and a gift bag.
Last year's winners were selected from a pool of approximately 100 applicants from high schools across the state, and the award has provided many with inspiration to pursue their interest in technology at the next level.
"Gender diversity in IT means a larger and more competitive workforce and, in a world dependent on innovation, it means the ability to design technology that is as broad and creative as the people it serves," said Maureen Biggers, Indiana's Aspirations in Computing awards chair and assistant dean for diversity, inclusion and education in the IU School of Informatics and Computing.
The Indiana coalition includes Purdue University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, University of Notre Dame, OneAmerica, Women & Hi Tech, the Society for Information Management, Microsoft and several other corporate sponsors.
"We want young people to understand the ways computing is collaborative and creative, and how it can be combined with just about any other academic interest area," Biggers said. "This competition is a positive step toward increasing awareness, and we look forward to impacting the lives of young women in Indiana when we announce the winners. We hope teachers, parents and anyone who mentors young women will encourage high school girls to apply."
For more information about the award and to enter, visit the NCWIT website.
About NCWIT
The National Center for Women & Information Technology is a nonprofit coalition of more than 200 prominent corporations, academic institutions, government agencies and nonprofits working to improve U.S. innovation, competitiveness and workforce sustainability by increasing women's participation in IT. NCWIT's work spans K-12 and higher education through industry and academic careers.
