USA School of Computing Hosts State Awards Honoring Young Women in Computing

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Posted on February 24, 2015

Alice Jackson

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Eighteen young women from across Alabama were recognized Saturday, Feb. 21, for their accomplishments and aspirations in computing and technology during an awards reception held at the University of South Alabama School of Computing. The awards on behalf of the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) and Alabama Affiliate Aspirations in Computing are designed to encourage more young women to choose careers in information technology.

The awards ceremony included keynote speaker Rosalind McCullough, a graduate student in the University’s School of Computing. McCullough was named a 2014 Grace Hopper Celebration Scholar and a 2015 Women in Cybersecurity (WiCys) Scholar. Her active research areas include increasing the efficiency of action-rule data mining, protection and analysis of large data sets and strengthening information assurance through personnel personality analysis.

NCWIT has selected Tiffany Stonecipher for its Alabama Educator Award for 2015. Stonecipher is the programming and software development teacher and BEST Robotics coach at the Muscle Shoals Career Academy in Muscle Shoals, Ala. 

She graduated with a master's degree in business/marketing education from Auburn University, bachelor's degree in business/marketing education from the University of North Alabama, and an associate's degree in legal office administration from Northwest Shoals Community College. In 2013, she was awarded a Fund for Teachers fellowship that allowed her to attend the North American Microsoft Tech-Ed Conference as well as the EdMedia Conference.

She is a member of the Computer Science Teachers Association, Alabama Business Education Association, National Business Education Association, Southern Business Education Association, Alabama Education Association, National Education Association, and National Association of Professional Women.

She prepares students for the world of IT through the Microsoft Technology Associate certifications and the Microsoft IT Academy. She was awarded the “Outstanding Credentialing Success” Award by the Alabama State Department of Education for certifying the highest number of students last school year, 2013-2014, in MTA certifications. She hosted an ‘Hour of Code’ for the second consecutive year for grades 8-12 in the Muscle Shoals City Schools system.  Stonecipher enjoys sharing her love of technology and learning with her students.

The award winners were selected for their outstanding aptitude and interest in computing and desire to pursue computer-related occupations.

The Alabama area 2015 winners are: Victoria Van, Bob Jones High School, Madison; Sarah Darrow, Huntsville High School; Sruti Josyula, Jazzlyn Miller, Summer Vo, Alabama School of Fine Arts, Birmingham; Amber Jackson, Alabama School of Math and Science, Mobile; Lani Davis, Morgan Wagner, Virgil Grissom High School, Huntsville; Cailin Simpson, New Century Tech Demo High School, Huntsville; Hillary Cross, New Hope High School, New Hope.

The runners-up are: Hannah Adler, Alabama School of Math and Science, Mobile; Jordan Setliff, Muscle Shoals High School; Demi Wilkins, Aliceville High School; Darian Mitchell, Isabel Stewart, Bob Jones High School, Madison; Ashly Blount, Tuscaloosa Academy; Karlissa Garrett, Sylacauga High School; Valencia Coleman, Smiths Station High School.

The Award for Aspirations in Computing is a program of the NCWIT, a coalition of more than 450 universities, corporations, and organizations dedicated to increasing the meaningful participation of women in computing. The awards program was created to acknowledge the computing aspirations of young women, introduce them to leadership opportunities in the field and generate visibility for women in computer-related pursuits.

The NCWIT Aspirations in Computing program is sponsored nationally by AT&T, Bank of America, Bloomberg and Microsoft with additional support from Google, Intel, Motorola Solutions Foundation and Northrup Grumman.

The Alabama affiliate of the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing is a collaborative effort by dedicated volunteers.

NCWIT’s work leverages programs from organizations across the country and connects efforts to increase women’s participation in information technology along the entire pipeline, from K-12 and higher education through industry and academic careers. Learn more at www.ncwit.org.

For more information on a variety of computing degrees offered by the University of South Alabama, A Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense, visit www.southalabama.edu/colleges/soc, or call (251) 460-6390.         

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