Twelve young women have been selected as winners of the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing – South Carolina from dozens of applications. They will be honored in April at a reception sponsored by Columbia College. The award is part of a national effort to encourage more young women to choose careers in technology and is organized in South Carolina by the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) and IT-oLogy.
“With technology jobs projected to grow faster than all other job sectors in the next decade, it’s imperative that we nurture the computing aspirations of women, who will make up half the professional workforce,” said Lucy Sanders, CEO and Co-founder of NCWIT. “This award allows us recognize and encourage talent that might otherwise be overlooked.”
The NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing was created to encourage the computing aspirations of young women, introduce them to leadership opportunities in the field, and generate visibility for women’s participation in technology fields. Winners are acknowledged for their outstanding aptitude and interest in technology and computing, leadership ability, academic history, and plans for post-secondary education.
Following are the winners of the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing – South Carolina:
Amanda Billings – Porter Gaud, Charleston, SC
Jessica Davis Denmark-Olar High School, Denmark, SC
Florence Faith – Porter Gaud, Charleston, SC
Meredith Hoover – Porter Gaud, Charleston, SC
Rebecca Kahn – Porter Gaud, Charleston, SC
Lillian Meng – Southside High School, Simpsonville, SC
Elizabeth Thompson – Chapin High School, Chapin, SC
Annemarie Thompson – Porter Gaud, Charleston, SC
Mary Kathryn Davidson – Homeschool
Alaina Smith – Westwood High School, Columbia, SC
Runners-up include:
Brandy Barfield, Lexington High School, Lexington, SC
Garis Grant – Porter Gaud, Charleston, SC
About NCWIT: NCWIT is the National Center for Women & Information Technology, a non-profit coalition of over 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. Find out more at www.ncwit.org.