I was wondering if there was anyone on here who applied for the 2017 NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Award? I’m quite nervous, decisions come out for the state and national winners in middle of December.
What kinds of experience have you had coding? What do you hope to gain from winning this award? I’m curious to see who else applied!
Good luck to you all!
P.S. For those who do not know what the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Award is, it is an award/scholarship for high school girls interested in computer science. It is awarded based off technical aptitude, academic excellence, and future goals with technology in mind. If you win, you get amazing prizes, and internship opportunities within the technology field.
@equationlover- one benefit of winning NCWIT is the networking opportunities among NCWIT staff and the NCWIT awardees. They have a facebook group where they exchange ideas, support and opportunities. NCWIT staff travel throughout the US and arrange for students to meet up and discuss opportunities in their community. My DD is a national runner-up and regional winner and the support comes in handy in dealing with college and job search issues.
@itsv that’s awesome!! If you don’t mind me asking, what kinds of experience did your daughter have with computer science when she applied for the award? I’m really hoping for the state award, but I’m only a sophomore, so I feel like I won’t have as much of a chance as upperclassman who have more opportunities because of their age. For example, I haven’t completed any internships yet because that’s only offered to juniors/seniors at my school. But I have a LOT of experience self studying and learning coding, and I also have presented projects about CS to my school and community… so I don’t really know. I’m kinda of nervous since I clicked at least 10 “I have no experience” boxes haha.
Also, do you know of any summer programs for girls interested in CS? I’ve looked at Girls Who Code, but that looks like it will be too low level for me.
@equationlover Since it is Thankgiving and my kids are coming into town it may be a few days for me to answer your question. A couple of questions for you will help me in giving a more detailed reponse about the summer program:
Are you a URM (hispanic, AA)
Does your school or community participate in FIRST robotics?
Can you afford a summer program or does it have to be free or at a discount?
Do you live in a major city or rural community?
Does our high school offer any coding classes or AP Computer Science?
There are lot of great program out there for you and I can try to give you some specific info. Here is one good program my DD’s friend did. http://oeop.mit.edu/programs/mostec
@equationlover O jot submit too quick. See if there is an “Expand Your Horizons” conference in your area. My DD attended and it lead to some good networking opportunities that lead to other CS experiences. http://www.eyhn.org/
I am not a URM in terms of race or ethnicity, but I do have two disabilities, which are both physical impairments.
I'm in my district's FRC robotics currently on the electrical team.
My family is low income, so it would have to be a program that has discounts or is free.
I live in a city about 45 minutes away from the capital in my state.
I have taken one computer class at my high school, and hope to take AP Computer Science A next year. (Online though, because I won't have enough room in my schedule to take it at my school, due to being in a STEM program.)
@itsv Thank you so much for offering to help me find programs. I’ve looked online, but I need some more guidance. I checked out the “Expand Your Horizons” program but it looks like none are offered in my state.
Thank you so much @itsv!! I should add that I live in the midwestern states. (Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, ECT.) Unfortunately, I looked at those and most of them require little knowledge of EECS, are too expensive, or are too far away. I think I’ll start a different thread for this topic. Happy Thanksgiving!!
@curiouscollege1 I haven’t heard anything yet…but I’m guessing I won’t win national award anyway. (I’m only a sophomore in hs so I haven’t had the opportunity to do real world research, but I’m working on that now!)
I actually received an email yesterday morning from NCWIT telling me that I received a National Honorable Mention! In the email, I was told that the list of national winners and honorable mentions (formerly called runner-ups) would be posted on the NCWIT website on December 27th.
Oh! My bad! I must have read info for the state/regional winners then! I really hope I won state award, but I doubt it lol. If you don’t mind me asking, what kinds of things do you think helped make you stand out to win honorable mention for national?
P.S. If I know my information right, if your an national honorable mention, you have a very good chance at winning state! So congrats!! @Tricia22
I also heard that the awards are AWESOME at state level!
Has anyone heard anything for regional/state awards? I believe that most national honorable mentions win state awards, but is there any chance that an regional winner will also win state? Just curious. I didn’t get national honorable mention, which I was expecting, lol.
