TORONTO November 13, 2019: 2019 STEMing UP Students awarded the CAN-NCWIT Award for Aspiration in Computing on November 9, 2019. The NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing (AIC) honors women in grades 9 through 12 who are active and interested in computing and technology and encourages them to pursue their passions. Recipients are chosen for their demonstrated interest and achievements in computing, proven leadership ability, academic performance, and plans for post‑secondary education. In this inaugural year of the Canadian NCWIT AIC Awards, applications were received from across Canada in numbers that far exceeded our expectations. Winners and honourable mentions were invited to the ACM Canadian Celebration of Women in Computing conference on November 9th to receive their award while 750 Canadian women in computing cheered them on. Canadian AIC awards were made possible by Shopify, Queen’s School of Computing and ACM.
“Young women often don’t consider Computer Science as a career path, mainly due to misconceptions about where this path can lead and who it is meant for. By highlighting the accomplishments of these young women and recognizing their contributions, we hope that they will be encouraged to continue with their study of computer science. Attending the ACM Celebration of Women in Computing event we hope that they will meet many young role models and recognize that Canada has an incredible community of women in the computing field” says Wendy Powley, Assistant Professor, Queen’s University and CAN-CWIC Founder
STEMing UP Program was developed to introduce highschool girls with multiple barriers to the fundamentals of computer science. Since its development in 2018, the program impacted 50 young women by preparing them for a career in tech. Young women were introduced to industry experts while learning to code, problem solve and think like a leader.
“We are so proud to see that students from our program are being recognized for their aspirations to enter the technology industry and help inspire numerous other young women to explore STEM careers.” says Doina Oncel, Founder and CEO or hEr VOLUTION.
It is our mission to inspire young women to invest in and aspire for STEM careers, especially those from underserved areas who may not have access to all necessary resources.
“I am honoured to receive the 2019 Canadian Aspirations Award from National Center for Women & Information Technology. My journey in STEMing UP opened doors of opportunities for me from technical skills to the mentorship programs. Through STEMing UP, I was able to learn about the award from NCWIT. I hope to use the opportunities I have to empower women in the STEM field by being a good role model.” says Arianne Ghislaine Rull, 2019 STEMing UP student and CAN-NCWIT award recipient.
“I am very grateful to be a part of such a diverse and accomplished group of women in technology, and I look forward to continuing to encourage other women and minorities to pursue careers in computer science.” says Jada Chang, 2019 STEMing UP student and CAN-NCWIT award recipient.
About hEr VOLUTION
hEr VOLUTION is an award-winning charitable organization providing innovative education and employment services to girls and young women in STEM. Our mission is to advance education by providing workshops and instructional seminars on topics relating to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) for low income and marginalized youth with a focus on girls and young women.
For more information, visit www.hervolution.org
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