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South Jordan Journal

Area high school students honored with Aspirations in Computing awards

Aug 04, 2022 01:58PM ● By Julie Slama

Murray High School senior Mary Seeley knows a thing or two about science and technology.

She has been part of a five-time first-place underwater robotics team; learned about making computer chips, coding, circuits, wiring, ethics, personal privacy and other aspects of cybersecurity at Brigham Young University camps; competed with VEX robotics and Science Olympiad on her high school team; been involved with Murray High’s tech club; was named Murray High’s Sterling Scholar in computer technology; served as a SheTech statewide student board member; started a SheTech club at her school; and has interned with both SheTech and Murray School District’s CyberCorp.

The 4.0 soon-to-be Spartan graduate recently was honored as a state award winner of National Center for Women & Information Technology Award for Aspirations in Computing. She was one of 60 area high school students honored at the April 30 ceremony held at the University of Utah.

“This award highlights all of my activities that I’ve done in tech, in STEM and computing,” said Seeley, who plans to attend BYU in the fall to study for a possible career in software development. “It showcases all the hard work I’ve put into it. It means a lot as I really enjoy the opportunities tech has given me and those opportunities have opened up a lot more. This year, and last year, there were some amazing women who spoke (at the ceremony) and really inspired me.”

The NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing honors ninth- through 12th-grade 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. 

Other area students who were honored include: Rachel Arlen, Cottonwood High; Daniella Black, Herriman High; Delaney Borg, Herriman High; Izabelle Davis, JATC; Annie de Bry, Brighton High; Joselyn Gardner, Herriman High; Taya Ginn, Herriman High; Acacia Hansen, Kearns High; Sage Hardman, Herriman High; Victoria Hollingsworth, Herriman High; Kailee Kim, Herriman High; Grace Ivers, JATC; Ashley Larson, Herriman High; Zoey Later, Herriman High; Casey Lumley, Herriman High; Micaela Madariaga, Hillcrest High; Katherine Numbers, Alta High; Leonardo Rivas, Olympus High; Madelyn Sadler, Bingham High; Abigail Slama-Catron, Hillcrest High; Katrina Snelgrove, Herriman High; Angelina Stokes, JATC; Adelina Trionfo, JATC; Allison Williams, Hillcrest High; and Julia Young, Herriman High.

Since 2007, nearly 20,000 students have received an Aspirations in Computing award and are then inducted into the AiC Community—a network of 20,000 technical women, genderqueer or non-binary individuals who work in universities, companies, nonprofits, and government organizations and are working to increase the influence and meaningful participation of girls and women from every community.

According to its website, NCWIT was chartered in 2005 by the National Science Foundation and 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, sexual orientation, and disability status—in the field of computing, particularly in terms of innovation and development. λ