MADISON, S.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Twenty-seven young women from North and South Dakota have begun to write their life stories in the field of technology and were recognized during the 2018 NWIT Aspirations in Computing Award Ceremony. One young woman is from Maple Valley High School.

“We need to know the stories of women in computing today,” said Dakota State University President Dr. José-Marie Griffiths, “to awaken this generation of young women, and the next and the next, to their potential to participate and lead in the computer workforce.”

Eva Bradshaw, regional affiliate manager with the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT), praised the achievements of “these brave young women” at the 2018 NCWIT Aspirations in Computing (AiC) Award Ceremony held on the Dakota State University campus April 23.

One of the honorees in the North/South Dakota affiliate region was Alexa Zinke of Maple Valley High School in Tower City, ND. She was a national honorable mention and a local affiliate winner. Zinke is planning a career in aerospace engineering. Selection is based on the student’s aptitude and aspirations in technology and computing, leadership ability, academic history, and plans for post-secondary education.

Guest speaker Linda Daugaard, first lady of South Dakota, said the Aspiration award winners represent “a rich and ready source… of highly qualified young women ready to enter the computer or information technology area.”

This is the twelfth season of the Award for Aspirations in Computing (AiC), and the seventh year with regional affiliates. The South and North Dakota region honored eight winners at their first event in 2013.