Five Awards for Aspirations in Computing Presented During Engineers Banquet at OU

-
NORMAN, Okla. – National, regional and educator awards were presented to Oklahoma high school students and an educator by the National Center for Women and Technology during a banquet held Feb. 25 at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. The banquet culminated a week-long celebration of National Engineers Week at the University of Oklahoma College of Engineering.

The National Center for Women and Technology annually presents national and regional Awards for Aspirations in Computing to high school girls and educators who are interested in computing.

The national winner received a $400 cash prize from the Oklahoma Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, along with the prizes awarded to the regional winners. Regional winners received a $200 award from EPSCoR and a $250 prize from the OU College of Engineering and the School of Computer Science.

Receiving regional awards were:
• Brooke Daugherty, a high school freshman from Gracemont, who hopes to attend

the Oklahoma School of Science and Math and would like to study aeronautical engineering at the U.S. Naval Academy,
• Jessica Hooker, a high school junior from Southwest Covenant Schools in Yukon, who plans to study medicine in college and
• Ashley Arnold, a senior from North High School in Edmond, who plans to study biology in college and has aspirations of becoming a teacher.

Katrina Hammonds, a home school senior from Oklahoma City, received the national award. She plans to study aeronautical engineering or one of several computer science-related fields.

The Aspirations in Computing Educator Award, which comes with $1,000 of professional development funds, went to Debra Smith at Gracemont High School. Smith has taught computer technology for 19 years, the past four at Gracemont. She holds a master’s degree, is a master trainer and also serves as the technology coordinator and chair of the Technology Committee for the district. “I believe it is important to challenge my students and encourage them to exceed beyond their expectations,” said Smith upon receiving the award.

The awards were sponsored by the KISS Institute for Practical Robotics, the Bank of Oklahoma and the OU College of Engineering.

Popular posts from this blog

OU Engineering Students Shine in Community Projects

-
Image
At the University of Oklahoma, a transformative course called Pathways to Engineering Thinking is leaving a mark on OU students and the community. In the first-year engineering course, over 800 students across 16 sections collaborated to tackle real-world challenges presented by community partners. Their projects ranged from developing prosthetic limbs for injured animals to creating innovative solutions for community gardens and zoos. The course aims to guide students through the engineering design process, emphasizing collaborative teamwork and problem-solving skills.  This semester’s projects reached many areas of the community. Partnerships with the OU Food Pantry, OU Community Garden, Oklahoma City Zoo, OU Engineering K-12 Outreach, a local dog rescue and the City of Norman provided students with real-world challenges to address. Each team delved into issues presented by the partners, working toward delivering functional design solutions by the semester’s end. The heart of the cou
Read more

OU Students Take on Habitat Challenge: Sooners Without Borders Constructs Ramp, More in Iowa

-
Image
In early January, six students from Sooners Without Borders at the University of Oklahoma headed to Des Moines, Iowa, teaming up with Habitat for Humanity. Their goal: construct an accessibility ramp for a local family. Their mission was part of Habitat’s Collegiate Challenge program, providing year-round volunteer opportunities for college students. The students, all from the Gallogly College of Engineering at OU, embraced the challenge. Formerly Engineers Without Borders, Sooners Without Borders had changed its name to be more inclusive of all majors at OU, says Lisa Morales, the group's staff adviser. “A lot of projects used to focus on clean water and students had the opportunity to travel abroad. Once Covid happened, we had to shift the focus of Sooner Without Borders,” Morales said.  In Des Moines, the project expanded beyond the ramp, involving tasks like installing kitchen cabinets and flooring for a new home. Morales says she was impressed with the student’s adeptness with
Read more

OU Engineering Welcomes 14 New Faculty Members for 2023-24

-
Image
OU Engineering has welcomed 14 new faculty members for the 2023-24 academic year. This marks a milestone in the college's growth journey, with faculty numbers increasing from just over 100 in 2017 to 175 in 2023. OU Engineering is committed to expanding its faculty ranks, aiming for over 200 faculty members by the 2025-26 academic year, says OU Engineering Dean John Klier. To achieve this goal, the college has initiated more than 20 faculty searches. The State of Oklahoma continues to acknowledge the need for more engineers. They recently responded to OU Engineering’s request for additional recurring funding. The funding will play a crucial role in offering undergraduate student tuition waivers, supporting graduate students and helping recruit new faculty and staff. These positions will be phased in over the next three years. "OU Engineering extends its gratitude for the ongoing support from the State of Oklahoma as it continues to address the growing demand for engineers,&quo
Read more