Kentucky Affiliate

Congratulations to Kentucky's 2024 AiC Honorees!

NATIONAL HONORABLE MENTION

Renae UpChurch, Ignite Institute

KENTUCKY AFFILIATE AWARD WINNERS

KENTUCKY AFFILIATE AWARD HONORABLE MENTIONS

The NCWIT Kentucky Affiliate's Awards Bruncheon will be on May 11, 2024 hosted by the University of Kentucky and KY NSF EPSCoR at The Cornerstone Esports Theater.

The Kentucky Community is proud to host the Award for Aspirations in Computing. Award recipients were selected for their aptitude and interest in IT and computing, solid leadership ability, good academic history, and plans for post-secondary education. Please contact ky-affiliate(at)apirations(dot)org with any questions. 

Join Us for the 2024 Elizabeth Farnsworth Memorial Pi Day Webinar
Feature Speaker: Tiffany Clark

Cyber activities are shaping policy every day in both the private and public sectors, but women make up only 24% of the cybersecurity workforce. That doesn't stop Kentucky native Tiffany Clark from breaking down barriers and staking her claim in this male-dominated field. Join the Kentucky Affiliate for NCWIT's Award for Aspirations in Computing on Pi Day 2024, 3.14 at 6:00PM Eastern, for an inspiring conversation about where a cybersecurity journey starting in Kentucky can take you. EVERYONE IS WELCOME! 

Register at https://tinyurl.com/PiDayAiCKY​

Read more about Tiffany's journey from rural Grayson County, Kentucky to Lockheed Martin via the University of Kentucky here.​

Elizabeth Farnsworth (1992-2022) was the Kentucky Affiliate Coordinator for NCWIT Aspirations in Computing from 2016-2022. She received her bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of Kentucky is 2015 and was the CMS Administrator & Web Accessibility Coordinator at Kentucky Community and Technical College System. "I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” (Mother Theresa) These are words Elizabeth lived by. She made so many ripples across so many ponds for people regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or ability, especially for women and girls in STEM. As Pi Day was her favorite holiday, our affiliate remembers Elizabeth with an annual webinar celebrating her legacy and continuing her work to inspire the next generation.

Kentucky's 2024 Awardees to be Recognized at CSTA Advocacy Dinner

Join the National AiC Community

Connect with like-minded high school, college, and early career women, genderqueer, and non-binary people in tech – because YOU belong! Aspirations in Computing (AiC) Community membership is free! 

Benefits of being in this community include: Gaining skills and experiences Meeting peers and colleagues Connecting with members at your school Receiving funds to host an event Applying for tech jobs Applying for scholarships and winning prizes Being featured in a national campaign Networking with thousands of peers. 

To join the AiC Community, all eligible 9-12th grade students, undergraduate and graduate students, as well as TECHNOLOchicas must register an AiC Community Member account on aspirations.org. Click here to join the AiC Community.​

Please send questions about the Kentucky AiC Affiliate to [email protected]

PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS

LEXINGTON, KY, April 29, 2023: The Kentucky Affiliate proudly hosted the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Award Bruncheon recognizing high school and collegiate students from across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Award recipients are selected for their aptitude and interest in IT and computing, solid leadership ability, good academic history, and plans for post-secondary education.

2023 Kentucky AiC Awardees, their families, and educators were invited to join Kentucky NCWIT Aspirations in Computing for our 2023 AiC Brunch & Awards Ceremony at The Cornerstone, University of Kentucky's innovation hub at the intersection of creativity, technology, entrepreneurship, and economic development. An exclusive tour of the University of Kentucky Pigman College of Engineering with head of recruiting Tony Jackson followed. 

KENTUCKY'S 2023 AWARDS FOR ASPIRATIONS IN COMPUTING

These students are helping change the face of technology in Kentucky. Congratulations to all!

LOUISVILLE, KY, May 30, 2022: Kentucky's Affiliate for the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing brought together over 50 awardees, STEM role models, and honored guests for an awards ceremony hosted at the Kentucky Science Center.  Awardees were able to meet in person, pick up their awards, enjoy a brunch catered by Levi, hear from accomplished guest speakers, as well as access to the museum.  
Guest speakers included robotic researchers from the University of Louisville - Brooke Ritz, a native of Johnson County, Kentucky, and Dr. Nazita Taghavi, a postdoctoral researcher at the Louisville Automation & Robotics Research Institute. Dr. Nazita shared the development of her research from the time she was a member of the first class of women to earn a degree in mechanical engineering in Iran (graduating at the top of her class) to her current work at UofL- a true role model and trailblazer! Appalachian native Brook Ritz shared her experience as a first-generation student and recent engineering graduate transitioning from student to professional engineer, and provided inspiration to the audience with her story of perseverance and self-determination. Press play below to hear Brooke share the advice she wished she got when she was in high school about the importance of believing in yourself and your aspirations. 

Kentucky's 2022 Awardees for Aspirations in Computing are:

National Honorable Mentions: Samirah Salifu, Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Math & Science; Delaney Hetzer, Russell High School; Vittoria Riedling, Sacred Heart Academy (KY)

Kentucky Affiliate Winners Rosaline Flowers, Elizabethtown High School; Sara Nath, Larry A. Ryle High School; Anna Engelman, Ignite Institute; Vivian Zeru, Dupont Manual High School; Jeanna Endicott, Belfry High School; Alexandra Perry, Conner High School

Kentucky Affiliate Honorable Mentions Aakanksha Shewale, Dupont Manual High School; Ariel Fader, Larry A. Ryle High School; Sydney Dennis, Eminence High School; Komal Chilukuri, Dupont Manual High School; Megan Chmiel, Larry A. Ryle High School; Natalie Fite, Belfry High School; Renae UpChurch, Ignite Institute; Audrey Engle, Larue County High School; Jessica Ford, Randall K. Cooper High School 

Kentucky Affiliate Rising Stars Laura Mcclanahan, Ignite Institute; Pal Patel, Dupont Manual High

About AiC Kentucky

What we do: We support and encourage students across Kentucky who self-identify as women, genderqueer or non-binary to pursue their dreams of effecting change by harnessing the power of computing and technology. As an affiliate of the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT), we advance the NCWIT mission of increasing the meaningful participation of populations currently underrepresented in computing and tech through the Michigan Aspirations in Computing (AiC) Program.

Through AiC, we implement three initiatives, which increase learners’ persistence in computing by inspiring, encouraging, and advancing them at pivotal stages of their educational and professional development

• AspireIT Impact Awards
• AiC Awards — recognize and celebrate high school and collegiate students’ technical aspirations and abilities and the educators who support them, at both the national and local levels
• AiC Community — creates a sense of belonging and endless networking and leadership development opportunities for girls, women, and other-gendered students

How you can help: 

Please consider if you or an organization you represent can help in any of the following ways:

• Spreading the word about AiC to communities and schools throughout the Commonwealth, encouraging more applications from more parts of Kentucky, and broadcasting our successes.
• Reviewing applications and selecting winners for the Kentucky AiC Awards.
  
• Providing in-kind donations (e.g. printing services) or SWAG for the Ceremony. 
• Hosting or facilitating K-12 educational programs (e.g., coding workshop, tour).
• Offering job shadowing and internship experiences.
• Becoming a financial sponsor.

Let us know your interest by filling the form below.  For more information please contact [email protected] or the KY Coordinator, Rosemary Fama with any questions about the Kentucky community.

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