2019 NCWIT Award Winners Nikitha Nallure, Architha Bommena, and Aditi Shinde
Recently, three Waukee High School and APEX students were honored at the state level for winning the National Center for Women & IT (NCWIT) Aspirations in Computing Award. Waukee juniors, Architha Bommena and Aditi Shinde, along with sophomore, Nikitha Nallure, were recognized at the Iowa Affiliate Award Celebration on Saturday, May 18, 2019, at Iowa State University in Ames. TheNCWIT Award recognizes high school and college females across the country for their accomplishments in technology. Awards are given at both national and state levels and range from affiliate runner-ups to the national winner.
“I’m so thankful to the people at NCWIT for this opportunity,” Aditi Shinde said. “I am grateful for being recognized as a woman who is passionate about technology, and I hope that through organizations like NCWIT, women can excel and unite to bring positive changes to our world. This award means a lot to me because it shows that working hard and breaking stereotypes brings you one step closer to your dreams.”
Director of APEX, Michelle Hill, encouraged these young women to apply for this award to honor their hard work and leadership roles throughout Waukee High School. Each is an active member of Waukee’s HyperStream Club among other technology experiences, such as Technology Students of America and FirstTech Challenge Robotics, where they have displayed their skills in technology and service beyond what is expected. Michelle Hill added, “NCWIT is a wonderful community for these young women. They are connected to mentors in the field and have access to scholarships, grant opportunities, and events throughout their professional careers.”
A full list of the NCWIT state and national winners can be found on the Aspirations website https://www.aspirations.org. You can also learn more about the NCWIT organization on their website https://www.ncwit.org/about.