FARMINGTON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS RECEIVE 2024 NCWIT ASPIRATIONS IN COMPUTING AWARDS
Twenty-Four FHS students were selected from more than 3,300 applicants from the United States and Canada. According to NCWIT, the Award for Aspirations in Computing (AiC) honors 9th-12th grade women, genderqueer, and non-binary students for their computing-related achievements and interests, and encourages them to pursue their passions. Award recipients are selected based on their aptitude and aspirations in technology and computing, as demonstrated by their computing experience, computing-related activities, leadership experience, tenacity in the face of barriers to access, and plans for post-secondary education. Three FHS students were recognized at the National level as Honorable Mentions. Awardees were honored at an AiC Award Celebration on Monday April 15th at the Travelers Connecticut Headquarters in Hartford, CT (See https://www.aspirations.org/affiliate/connecticut).
Each recipient will receive recognition and prizes, induction into a community of over 15,000 technical women, access to resources and scholarships and internship opportunities. “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.
The National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) is a non-profit community of more than 1,240 universities, companies, non-profits, and government organizations nationwide working to increase women’s participation in computing and technology. NCWIT equips change leaders with resources for taking action in recruiting, retaining, and advancing women from K–12 and higher education through industry and entrepreneurial careers. Find out more at www.ncwit.org.
Farmington High School is proud to have the most students honored in Connecticut for the 11th time. FHS has established a new Computer Science learning pathway aligned to student interests and supported by guidance from adults to lead students to college, career, and citizenship readiness. The pathway will include a new Cybersecurity course to be piloted next school year. This year’s NCWIT awardees were endorsed by Science Department Faculty member, Timothy Barron (Computer Science teacher), and/or their counselor. Below is a list of winners.
- Sreenidi Bala CT Winner
- Sneha Balur CT Winner
- Mackenzie Campbell CT Winner
- Olivia Ceres-Barber CT Winner & National Honorable Mention
- Doorva Garg CT Winner & National Honorable Mention
- Shayna Gangisetty CT Rising Star
- Suma Ganta CT Winner
- Aarini Guha CT Winner
- Zeeva Haviland CT Honorable Mention
- Mahima Kodakirthi CT Winner
- Ananya Krishnamurthy CT Honorable Mention
- Himani Kumar CT Winner
- Jiayi Liu CT Winner
- Claire Lyons CT Honorable Mention
- Nikita Nayunipati CT Honorable Mention
- Sriya Pabbisetty CT Rising Star
- Sahana Paruchuri CT Winner
- Ketki Patange CT Honorable Mention
- Victoria Pegkou Christofi CT Winner & National Honorable Mention
- Eva Rios CT Honorable Mention
- Sia Sharma CT Honorable Mention
- Isha Shenoy CT Winner
- Ria Verma CT Winner
- Ritisha Unde CT Winner