Calling All Coder Girls, Tech Chix, and Digital Divas

BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) Award for Aspirations in Computing is now accepting applications from young women with computing aspirations.

“At Bank of America, serving the financial needs of our customers and clients around the world requires outstanding technology and operations capabilities”

The NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing is a national, high-school-level competition sponsored by Bank of America and open to any U.S. female. Recipients of the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing are selected for their outstanding aptitude and interest in computing and technology, proven leadership ability, academic performance, and plans for post-secondary education. Students can apply online at http://www.aspirationsaward.org. The Award closes on October 31, 2012, at 11:59 PM ET.

Although women represent more than half the professional workforce and earn more than half of all undergraduate degrees, they hold just 25% of all computing occupations and earn only 18% of undergraduate computing degrees. This Award, part of the Aspirations in Computing Talent Pipeline Program, closes the gender gap in technology by identifying young women with computing aspirations and achievements and encouraging them to pursue technical careers. The Aspirations in Computing Program provides young women with prizes from national and local sponsors, recognition in their communities, opportunities for scholarships and internships, and access to a community of like-minded, up-and-coming technical women. Each national award-winner receives:

$500 cash
A laptop computer
A trip to attend the Bank of America Technology Showcase and Awards Ceremony in Charlotte, North Carolina on March 9, 2013
An engraved award for both the student and her school
Networking opportunities with Bank of America employees

“At Bank of America, serving the financial needs of our customers and clients around the world requires outstanding technology and operations capabilities,” said Enterprise Chief Technology Officer, Debbie Guild. “It is vital that our team has the benefit of diverse perspectives and experiences as we adapt to changes in the marketplace and leverage advances in technology. With this Award, Bank of America is helping to build the technology innovators of the future.”

In addition to the national competition, NCWIT offers 54 local affiliate competitions serving 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Affiliate Awards are sponsored nationally by Microsoft, Motorola, Google and Qualcomm, with local support from over 300 companies, academic institutions, and K-12 organizations.

“The Bureau of Labor Statistics tells us that there will be 1.4 million job openings by 2020, yet two-thirds of these jobs may go unfilled because of a computing talent shortage,” said Lucy Sanders, CEO of NCWIT. “By encouraging young women to pursue and persist in technology, this Award taps into a diverse and critical talent pool.”

About the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT)

The National Center for Women & Information Technology is a change-leader community of more than 350 prominent corporations, academic institutions, government agencies, and non-profits working to increase women's participation in technology and computing. Find out more at http://www.ncwit.org.

About Bank of America

Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) is one of the world's largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. Bank of America is a global leader in corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world, serving clients through operations in more than 40 countries. http://www.bankofamerica.com.