Senior Macheala McAdams and junior Kaitlyn Gordon attended an award ceremony for the National Center for Women and Information Technology on March 28 where they were honored with the 2018 DFW Affiliate Winner of the NCWIT Award for aspirations in computing, marking them among the top ten female students in computer science in the state of Texas.

“The National Center for Women and Information Technology starts in high school and ends at the collegiate level,” McAdams said. “There are various levels of awards, like the aspirations in the community awards and the collegiate aspirations in the community awards, and you can win every year for the same award.”

The competition was fierce, but the experience they gained and places they visited left a lasting impression.

“It’s a competition in the whole Dallas-Fort Worth area, so there were a lot of people trying to get this award,” Gordon said. “When we got there they showed us around the [University of North Texas] campus, and we got to go to the different parts of their computer science [building], which covers a whole section of the campus. We talked to a guy that cracked open phones, and he does a lot of different stuff for like the FBI and other federal departments. I thought that was amazing.”

In addition to being recognized for their talent in computer science, McAdams and Gordon gained access to a plethora of other opportunities.

“This award allows me to get scholarships if I apply for them,” Gordon said. “The National Women in Computer Science is an organization that allows you to get more connected in the world of computer science. There’s this whole group of women who I have basically on speed dial if I need anything or if I need to talk to them about a project or need help getting started on something they can help me. They’ve already connected me, and there’s even a Latina program for women in computer science.” 

Both McAdams and Gordon have advice for women who want to pursue a career in a male-dominated field.