Five Hotchkiss students have been recognized by the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) for their computing-related achievements and interests. They were applauded during an All-School Meeting on May 8.

Pahal Bhasin '26, Sia Reddy '26, Helen Cao '28, Irene Gong '28, and Chloe Kong '28 are all Connecticut Affiliate winners for the award, earning the highest distinction from NCWIT in the state. 

Sia is also a national winner for this year’s NCWIT Aspirations in Computing High School Award. She is one of only 40 national winners.

"It's very cool to be recognized for the work I've put in over the years," Sia said. "I'm really excited because it's an amazing opportunity to meet a lot of other winners who have worked on similar projects and have the same passions. It's really interesting to connect over these shared ideas and ideals."

Tammy Andrew, instructor in mathematics and computer science, said, “Each year I am impressed by the high caliber of students who apply for this recognition, which honors their achievements in technology, their enthusiasm for sharing it with others, and their aspirations for the future. NCWIT's Aspiration in Computing Award is an incredibly high distinction, and they all deserve congratulations for their achievement.”

Award recipients were selected from a few thousand applicants from all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. overseas military bases, and Canada. The award honors students in grades nine through 12 who self-identify as women, genderqueer, or non-binary. NCWIT selects recipients based on "their aptitude and aspirations in technology and computing, as demonstrated by their computing experience, computing-related activities, leadership experience, tenacity in the face of barriers to access, and future plans."

NCWIT is a nonprofit whose mission is to widen participation in IT and STEM through innovative programs and research. Aspirations in Computing opens pathways into technology and recognizes and celebrates students' technical aspirations and abilities, as well as the educators who support them.