On December 9, 2011, I joined five other winners of the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing at the White House, in an event honoring the Girls and Women in STEM Champions of Change. This event celebrated people, businesses, and organizations who recruit and retain girls and women in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
There was a diverse group of leaders being honored at the event. From a college senior at Howard University and several college professors, to NCWIT's own Bobby Schnabel and Avis Yates Rivers, these people have successfully worked to make sure women have their rightful place in the STEM world. Personally, I was very inspired by each one of their stories, which should inspire us to pave a wider road for girls in IT.
I am very grateful to have had this opportunity given to me by NCWIT and all of the support from my college, Georgia Tech. Though we were not able to meet the President or First Lady, we were graced with the presence of Aneesh Chopra, the United States Chief Technology Officer (CTO), who was a moderator for the roundtable discussions. I had a great time, this being my first exposure to the White House. Thanks again, NCWIT, for all you do!
Vivian is a student of computer science at Georgia Tech and a winner of the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing.
