Award for HS Girls - Aspirations in Computing

SANTA CRUZ, CALIF., (September 25, 2013) – Applications are now open for the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) Award for Aspirations in Computing. This award seeks to recognize high-school girls with outstanding achievements and aspirations in computing and technology, as part of an effort to encourage more young women to choose careers in technology. Award recipients will be selected for their aptitude and interest in IT and computing, solid leadership ability, academic record, and plans for post-secondary education. Girls in grades 9-12 are encouraged to apply. NCWIT identifies award winners at both the local and national levels.

The Bay Area Affiliate is proud to host the local award in California counties around the San Francisco Bay Area, from the coast to the inland valleys. Twenty-five local award winners will receive a $250 gift card, a “Day @ Google”, an engraved award for both the student and the student’s school, an invitation to the local awards ceremony, and other technology goodies from Silicon Valley companies. Additionally, students may earn university scholarships. At least one senior Bay Area Award winner will receive a $16,000 scholarship to study Computer Science or Computer Engineering at UC Santa Cruz, contingent upon their application and acceptance to the university. Santa Clara University also offers a minimum $6,000 per year scholarship, renewable for four years, to any winner who is accepted to any program in the SCU engineering school.

The Bay Area Affiliate award is open to residents of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Merced, Monterey, San Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma, and Stanislaus counties. For more information on the Bay Area competition, and to submit an application, visit: www.aspirations.org/aspirations-community/california-san-francisco-bay-area.

National award winners receive a $500 cash award, a laptop computer, an engraved crystal award for both the student and the student's school, and a trip to attend the Bank of America Technology Showcase and Awards Ceremony in Charlotte, North Carolina. For more information on the National competition and to submit an application, visit: www.aspirations.org/participate/high-school

Applications are due by October 31, 2013. Finalists will be notified in December. Students can apply for the National and Bay Area Awards at the same time.