MPH students recognized for achievement in Computer Science

MPH junior Sarah Smith has been awarded the National Center For Woman And Information Technology (NCWIT) Upstate New York Local Affiliate Aspirations In Computer Science (AiC) Award. She has also received an Honorable Mention at the National level, a distinction given to only 350 out of 3,500 applicants. This organization honors high school women who are active and interested in computing and technology, and encourages them to pursue their passions. Award for AiC recipients are chosen for their demonstrated interest and achievements in computing, proven leadership ability, academic performance, and plans for post‑secondary education.  In the application students are required to communicate their interest in computing technology, specific technology computing projects they have been involved in and out of the school community, and plans for their future in the CIS field. Students are then evaluated by judges from around the nation to determine how they compare to others.

Kyleigh Mogilewski, a sophomore, was awarded an Upstate New York Local Honorable Mention.

Sarah will be recognized at an awards ceremony this Saturday at the Shaffer Galleria, located in Shaffer Art Building on the Syracuse University campus. The ceremony not only honors the awardees, but the schools and educators who support the students’ efforts. Sarah will be bringing home a trophy for her accomplishment and one for MPH as well!

Computer and Information Science Department Chair Ryan Zlomek indicates that he has been nominating students for this award since 2013, and every student who has applied has received a minimum of an honorable mention. “My goal as a teacher is to create an environment that is inviting to all students, and I think that NCWIT does a great job to shed light on the cool things students and teachers are doing around the U.S. When a female student demonstrates a passion and talent for computing technology I encourage her to apply and provide them a reference,” says Zlomek.  The NCWIT also  honored Zlomek with the Aspirations Educator Award in 2016.

The NCWIT describes itself in the following way: “The National Center For Woman And Information Technology is the only national non-profit focused on women’s participation in computing across the entire ecosystem, helping nearly 900 organizations recruit, retain, and advance women from K-12 and higher education through industry and entrepreneurial careers by providing support, evidence, and action.”