Paramus High student wins national award for women in technology

Danielle Park, a Paramus High School junior and computer scientist, holds her Award for Aspirations in Computing from the National Center for Women and Information Technology.

Publish a reserve: verify. Lead investigate to a Harvard-run journal: test. Launch a computer system science camp for young people today: check.

Which is not all Paramus Large University junior Danielle Park accomplished this previous yr. She was topped 1 of 40 national winners, the only a person from New Jersey, in the Countrywide Centre for Women and Details Technology’s Award for Aspirations in Computing.

The awards acknowledge feminine, genderqueer or non-binary high college students across the U.S. who excel and want to progress in know-how and computing. Out of much more than 3,500 candidates, the center chose 360 honorable mentions alongside with 40 national winners. Park received scholarship money, a MacBook and other devices she can use to proceed her technological education.

Park failed to anticipate to earn the nationwide award the initial time she used, a emotion she attributed to the “imposter syndrome” ladies and gender-diverse persons in STEM fields frequently confront.

“We just take down our have achievements mainly because we are comparing ourselves to other folks,” Park mentioned. “But what would make me various is what makes me profitable.”

Park desires other youthful people today intrigued in laptop science to experience that identical realization. Edie Cheng, the director of Aspirations in Computing, claimed Park’s “deep, passionate dedication for generating computing accessible to all” manufactured Park a “standout” among the this year’s award applicants.

Additional about Danielle Park:Paramus teenager didn’t see folks like herself in STEM publications or lessons. She options to transform that

Last April, Park self-posted her reserve, “Less than One Ailment: An Introduction to Personal computer Science Ideas and Programming in Python.” The e-book information primary lessons she uncovered in computer system science courses in a way that center and large university audience could understand. She hopes it inspires younger girls and nonbinary people to enroll in higher college personal computer science courses. She has by now started a 2nd e book that explains the principles of Java programming.

Park makes use of “Underneath A single Situation” as the textbook for Bergen CodeHers, a personal computer science application she created for mounting seventh- and eighth-quality girls and genderqueer persons. She teaches the exact same pc science and Python essentials, and mentors students to come to be STEM leaders, during the eight-session course.

The award winner had to go Bergen CodeHers to the springtime this year to make time to test even much more bins on the STEM accomplishment list. Park is enrolled in a summer season analysis method at the New Jersey Governor’s Faculty of Engineering & Engineering. She acquired the coveted spot just after her college picked her as its sole nominee for the Rutgers-led method.

“I was competing with some of the most inspiring kids … It was really surprising to see that I obtained in,” Park said. “I’m most fired up to be equipped to perform with like-minded peers in a location exactly where I can function with market mentors and study from Rutgers professors.”

Rutgers is only just one university that now is aware Park’s identify. Her analysis is published in the Journal of Emerging Investigators, a publication operate by Harvard graduate students that showcases middle and higher university scholar study. Over the earlier yr, Park labored as a analysis affiliate at New York University and participated in electronic sign processing research at Fairleigh Dickinson College. She’s only beginning to tour college campuses, but for now Park hopes to go to Princeton College after her remaining 12 months at Paramus Significant University.

Cheng, the award director, reported Park’s “expertise as a technologist” confirmed in her investigation and achievements at the university level, notably her suitable studies about cryptographically secure voting devices.

“She is a precocious expertise, and we are searching ahead to listening to about more wonderful things from Danielle heading forward,” Cheng reported.

Even though Park was the only national winner from New Jersey, quite a few local students received honorable mentions in this year’s NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing: Katherine Fang, Marlboro Risha Surana, Chatham Harita Suresh, Jersey Town Priyanka Suresh, Edison Shriya Sudhakar, Princeton Junction Maya Dummett, Morristown Diana Elguera Tapia, Vauxhall Annica Lam, Livingston Anusha Bansal, Livingston Anisha Tehim, Ridgewood Rithika Thambireddy, Plainsboro Sahasra Pokkunuri, Old Bridge Samhita Pokkunuri, Previous Bridge Grace Tsai, Moorestown Ashita Birla, Jersey Metropolis Aileen Rangel, West New York Esha Venkatanarayan, Edison Kavya Venkatesan, Laurence Harbor Carmella Holloway, Bridgeton Aashika Jagadeesh, Honest Garden Saanvi Mehta, Linwood Shreya Mogulothu, Princeton Kavya Mukkamala, Plainsboro Alveera Munshi, Kendall Park Nidhi Mylavarapu, Princeton Tamara Kasikovic, Matawan.

Sammy Gibbons is a tradition reporter for the Usa These days Network’s Atlantic Location How We Live workforce. E-mail: [email protected] | Twitter: @sammykgibbons