Paramus High student wins national award for women in technology
4 min read

Publish a reserve: look at. Contribute exploration to a Harvard-operate journal: verify. Launch a computer science camp for young people today: check.
That’s not all Paramus Superior Faculty junior Danielle Park attained this earlier calendar year. She was topped 1 of 40 national winners, the only a person from New Jersey, in the Nationwide Centre for Ladies and Information Technology’s Award for Aspirations in Computing.
The awards acknowledge female, genderqueer or non-binary high school students across the U.S. who excel and desire to advance in technological know-how and computing. Out of a lot more than 3,500 applicants, the heart chose 360 honorable mentions together with 40 countrywide winners. Park been given scholarship funds, a MacBook and other units she can use to carry on her technological schooling.
Park failed to count on to get the nationwide award the initial time she utilized, a sensation she attributed to the “imposter syndrome” women and gender-various individuals in STEM fields generally facial area.
“We just take down our very own achievements since we are evaluating ourselves to many others,” Park reported. “But what tends to make me unique is what helps make me effective.”
Park wants other youthful persons interested in laptop science to encounter that identical realization. Edie Cheng, the director of Aspirations in Computing, stated Park’s “deep, passionate dedication for building computing available to all” created Park a “standout” between this year’s award applicants.
More about Danielle Park:Paramus teenager failed to see men and women like herself in STEM books or lessons. She ideas to alter that
Past April, Park self-published her guide, “Under 1 Affliction: An Introduction to Pc Science Principles and Programming in Python.” The book specifics essential lessons she discovered in personal computer science classes in a way that center and superior school audience could fully grasp. She hopes it evokes younger women and nonbinary men and women to enroll in higher faculty computer system science courses. She has previously started a second guide that explains the basics of Java programming.
Park works by using “Less than Just one Ailment” as the textbook for Bergen CodeHers, a computer science software she created for rising seventh- and eighth-grade women and genderqueer men and women. She teaches the same laptop science and Python fundamental principles, and mentors pupils to turn out to be STEM leaders, during the 8-session study course.
The award winner experienced to move Bergen CodeHers to the springtime this yr to make time to check even extra bins on the STEM accomplishment checklist. Park is enrolled in a summer season research system at the New Jersey Governor’s College of Engineering & Technology. She earned the coveted place soon after her school selected her as its sole nominee for the Rutgers-led program.
“I was competing with some of the most inspiring kids … It was very shocking to see that I received in,” Park said. “I’m most thrilled to be in a position to do the job with like-minded peers in a placing in which I can function with marketplace mentors and understand from Rutgers professors.”
Rutgers is only 1 faculty that currently is aware Park’s identify. Her analysis is published in the Journal of Emerging Investigators, a publication operate by Harvard graduate pupils that showcases center and large college student study. Over the past year, Park worked as a exploration affiliate at New York University and participated in electronic sign processing exploration at Fairleigh Dickinson College. She’s only beginning to tour college campuses, but for now Park hopes to attend Princeton College right after her closing 12 months at Paramus Higher College.
Cheng, the award director, said Park’s “talent as a technologist” showed in her exploration and achievements at the university level, particularly her appropriate experiments about cryptographically secure voting systems.
“She is a precocious expertise, and we are seeking ahead to hearing about far more terrific matters from Danielle likely forward,” Cheng reported.
Though Park was the only national winner from New Jersey, numerous 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, Aged Bridge Grace Tsai, Moorestown Ashita Birla, Jersey Town Aileen Rangel, West New York Esha Venkatanarayan, Edison Kavya Venkatesan, Laurence Harbor Carmella Holloway, Bridgeton Aashika Jagadeesh, Good Garden Saanvi Mehta, Linwood Shreya Mogulothu, Princeton Kavya Mukkamala, Plainsboro Alveera Munshi, Kendall Park Nidhi Mylavarapu, Princeton Tamara Kasikovic, Matawan.
Sammy Gibbons is a culture reporter for the United states of america Currently Network’s Atlantic Area How We Live crew. Electronic mail: [email protected] | Twitter: @sammykgibbons
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