Four LAUSD Students Win National Award for Aspirations in Computing

LOS ANGELES - Jan. 29, 2015 - PRLog -- Los Angeles, CA (1/21/15)The results (https://www.aspirations.org/blog/2015-national-winners-runners-announced) are in for the national winners and runners-up of the Award for Aspirations in Computing. The Foshay Tech Academy, a small three year program at Foshay Learning Center (an under-represented K-12 span school in South Los Angeles) boasts the only National Winner from LAUSD plus three national runners up. This award recognizes U.S. high school women for their outstanding aptitude and interest in computing, proven leadership ability, and academic performance.

The four girls honored this year will join the five winners from the Foshay Technology Academy last year in the Aspirations in Computing (AiC) Community. Backed by Bloomberg, the AiC Community provides: early access to internships, job opportunities, and technical projects, invitations to reunions, meet-ups, and gatherings around the country, virtual support such as webinars, and a network of over 575 corporate, non-profit, and academic organizations from the NCWIT community. Foshay had the first National winner from LAUSD last year.

Of the eight girls who applied from the Foshay Technology Academy (http://foshaytech.weebly.com/), half of those girls are recognized nationally. The winners include:

Ana Hernandez (https://www.aspirations.org/users/ana-38780), National Winner (2014 National Runner Up and Southern California Winner)

As a national winner, Ana will  receive a $500 cash prize, laptop computer, and two engraved trophies -- one for her and one for her school. All 35 national winners will be honored by Bank of America (national level sponsor) at the Bank of America Technology Stars of the Future Showcase and Awards Ceremony on March 7, 2015, in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Ana is a senior at Foshay Learning Center and a proud member of the Technology Academy where she has learned how to use different software and programs. She is captain of her school's FIRST Robotics team (Team 597), and president of the MESA team. She had a summer internship as a web design intern at KPCC, a public radio station where she learned Ruby on Rails. One of the highlights she is most proud of is having the honor of being a student guest speaker at Apple Inc.'s headquarters during their Diversity week in the summer.

Portfolio: http://anahernandez292.wix.com/ahernanportfolio

Carolina Menjivar (http://www.aspirations.org/awardees/aspirations-award-recipients/national?field_award_type_target_id=2&field_year_value%5Bvalue%5D%5Byear%5D=2015&field_first_name_value=Carolina&=Apply) National Runner Up (2014 Southern California Runner Up).

Carolina attends Foshay Learning Center where she is  a proud member of the Technology Academy. She is part of the FIRST Robotics Team 597, a FIRST Lego League Mentor and is a member of MESA. She is currently the class representative of the School in a Bottle Scholarship club and was part of the Technovation Challenge in her sophomore year. She recently built a prototype for an app that helps people find and place lost pets.

Portfolio: http://carolinaemm3.wix.com/digital-portfolio

Amber Johnston (https://www.aspirations.org/users/amber-67082) National Runner Up

Amber is currently a junior at Foshay Learning Center where she is taught to take initiative, think critically, communicate effectively, and to use her skills to make a positive impact on the world. She is determined to pursue a future in computer science and engineering, especially because she is a female in a male dominated world, but she is ready to do what is necessary to make her dreams of becoming an engineer/computer programmer a reality.

Portfolio: http://ajohnston8448.wix.com/digital-portfolio

Sydney Turner (https://www.aspirations.org/users/sydney-61455) National Runner Up

Sydney  is a member of the Foshay High Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble. Her instruments include: flute, clarinet, piano, and guitar. Her greatest accomplishment would have to be her Computer Buying Project, that was shown at an Exploring Computer Science Conference at UCLA to over 600 other computer science students. Sydney’s goal is to graduate from Stanford University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering and then go on to make mind-blowing creations. Website: sydneymariee98.wix.com/sydneyturner

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About Foshay Tech Academy: The Technology Academy introduces students to the broad career opportunities in today's digital workforce and, in the process, equips them with the personal, analytical, technical and communications skills they need to thrive. The Technology Academy was established in 1997 and operates as a "school within a school" as one of three small learning communities within the high school. The 180 Tech students receive an interdisciplinary curriculum in Technology, History, English, and Science from 10th grade to 12th grade. The Academy at Foshay Learning Center features a cutting-edge curriculum          especially designed for students with an interest in technology.

The National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) is a non-profit community of more than 575 universities, companies, non-profits, and government organizations nationwide working to increase women’s participation in computing and technology. NCWIT equips change leaders with resources for taking action in recruiting, retaining, and advancing women from K–12 and higher education through industry and entrepreneurial careers.