Calling All Digital Divas, Web Chix, and Coder Girls

The National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) and Bank of America are now accepting applications for the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing, which recognizes young women at the high school level for their aspirations and achievements in technology and computing.

The NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing is a national competition sponsored by Bank of America. The NCWIT Award is open to any U.S. female in grades 9-12 and students can apply online at http://www.aspirationsaward.org. The Award competition opens September 15, 2011 and ends on October 31, 2011, at 11:59 PM ET.

The Award is part of the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing program, a talent development pipeline initiative designed to increase women’s participation in technology careers by providing encouragement, visibility, community, leadership opportunities, scholarships, and internships. Since the Award’s inception in 2007, over 90 percent of NCWIT Award-winners now in college report majoring in traditionally male-dominated STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields.

“At Bank of America we believe that technology innovation is driven by diversity of thought and experience,” said Chief Information Officer Amy Brady, Global Enterprise Functions Technology & Operations. “Through our partnership with NCWIT we are making opportunity possible for future technology leaders and innovators.”

Winners 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. Each national award-winner will receive:

• $500 cash
• A laptop computer
• A trip to attend the Bank of America Technology Showcase and Awards Ceremony in Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday, March 10, 2012
• An engraved award for both the student and her school
• Mentoring opportunities with Bank of America associates

In addition to the national competition, NCWIT partners with local organizations to offer "affiliate" Award competitions to young women in regions around the U.S. Last year the Award program recognized 326 young women in 24 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. Affiliate Awards are sponsored nationally by Microsoft, Motorola, Google and Qualcomm, with local support from over 300 companies, academic institutions, and K-12 organizations.

“By providing recognition and encouragement to women whose achievements might otherwise be overlooked, this Award changes the lives of students, who may then influence technology in a way that changes all our lives,” said Lucy Sanders, CEO and Co-founder of NCWIT.

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

The National Center for Women & Information Technology is a coalition of more than 300 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.