PALCS Student Aims High And Wins Computing Award

Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School Student Aims High And Wins NCWIT Award For Aspirations In Computing

 
In a world where technology is always changing and evolving, students who aspire to become innovators and achieve excellence in technical fields have a competitive advantage and deserve to be recognized.

At Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School (PALCS), one student has garnered national attention for her work in technology. PALCS Junior Jaden Barney recently received the 2012 NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing.  The award, sponsored by Bank of America and theNationalCenterfor Women & Information Technology (NCWIT), recognizes young high school women for their computing-related achievements and interests as part of an effort to encourage more young women to choose careers in technology.

A total of 35 award-winners, including Jaden, were selected out of 1,200 applicants from high schools across the country. The winners were chosen based on their outstanding aptitude and interest in information technology and computing, solid leadership ability, good academic history and plans for post-secondary education.

Each award-winner receives:
$500 cash
a laptop computer, provided by Bank of America
a trip, including airfare for nonlocal winners, some meals, & lodging, all provided by Bank of America, for each awardee and one accompanying parent or legal guardian, to attend the Bank of America Technology Showcase and Awards Ceremony held in Charlotte, North Carolina
an engraved award for both the student and the student’s school

“Encouraging young women’s interest in technology careers is critical: our workforce needs their creativity and their innovation,” said Lucy Sanders, CEO and Co-founder of NCWIT.

Jaden was selected based on her considerable expertise in engineering and robotics. After joining Girls of Steel, an all-girls robotics team atCarnegieMellonUniversity, she earned a summer research assistantship with the university’s Robotics Institute where she successfully redesigned a crucial piece of equipment. Jaden launched a website called Rookie FIRSTs which offers advice for rookie robotics competition teams to share the lessons that she has learned from her two years as the team leader for her FIRST Robotics team.

“Before I got involved with the robotics team, like a lot of girls I didn’t really understand what engineering was or have a lot of experience with using technology to create things—but I learned quickly and developed a passion for it,” said PALCS Student and NCWIT Award winner Jaden Barney. “Winning this award means a lot to me because it confirms that I can be successful in this field.”

Jaden is applying to colleges where she can major in mechanical engineering with a focus on robotics. She hopes to combine her interest in space and robotics by one day working for NASA by designing robots to help further explore the space frontier.

“PennsylvaniaLeadershipCharterSchoolis proud of Jaden for earning this prestigious award,” said PALCS CEO Dr. Jim Hanak. “Jaden’s success is a testament to the education that she has received at our school. As a cyber charter school, PALCS has a keen understanding of the value of technology to students’ future success and consequently provides them with a solid foundation in technology and a course of study designed to meet their individual needs.”

Jaden’s success reinforces Dr. Hanak’s point. “Attending a cyber charter school, such as PALCS, gives me the time and flexibility to get really involved with my robotics team and assume a leadership role,” she said. “PALCS provides me with an education that complements what I learn