Oklahoma CareerTech students, teacher win NCWIT Aspirations in Computing awards
Two Oklahoma CareerTech students and an instructor received awards from the National Center for Women & Information Technology.
Two more students received honorable mentions.
Alexia Cross, Atoka Public Schools Technology Student Association, and Yasmina Bruton, Tri County Technology Center TSA, both received NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing. David Swift, TSA adviser at Atoka Public Schools, received the AiC Educator Award.
In addition, Rachel Maltz and Ruby Miller, both with Atoka Public Schools TSA, received honorable mentions.
“Encouraging students who have historically been underrepresented in technology fields is critical. Computing underlies an increasing number of the products and systems we use every day, and to ensure they are beneficial to the broadest group of people possible, a diverse group of people must dream them and then create them,” said NCWIT CEO and Executive Director Terry Hogan.
TSA is one of seven co-curricular CareerTech student organizations. It is affiliated with science, technology, engineering and mathematics education.
“The NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing empowers the next generation by connecting students with industry mentors for career growth,” said Tonja Norwood, manager of the Oklahoma CareerTech science, technology, engineering and mathematics education division.
Award recipients were selected from more than 3,300 applicants from all 50 U.S. states; Washington, D.C.; Guam; Puerto Rico; the U.S. Virgin Islands; and U.S. overseas military bases. Selections were based on outstanding aptitude and aspirations in technology and computing as demonstrated by computing experience, computing-related activities, leadership experience, tenacity in the face of barriers to access and plans for postsecondary education.
Oklahoma CareerTech: Education that works for you
The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education provides leadership and resources and assures standards of excellence for a comprehensive statewide system of career and technology education. The system offers programs and services in 29 technology center districts operating on 60 campuses, 391 PK-12 school districts, 15 Skills Centers campuses that include three juvenile facilities and 32 adult education and family literacy providers.
The agency is governed by the State Board of Career and Technology Education and works closely with the State Department of Education and the State Regents for Higher Education to provide a seamless educational system for all Oklahomans.
About NCWIT
NCWIT is a nonprofit community that convenes, equips and unites change leader organizations to increase the influential and meaningful participation of girls and women — at the intersections of race/ethnicity, class, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status and other historically marginalized identities — in the field of computing, particularly in terms of innovation and development. Find out more at www.ncwit.org.
