April 18, 2024
A first-year student majoring in information science at SCI and winner of the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) Aspirations in Computing Award 2023, Paige Frank showcased her achievements on the podcast One Mic Stand on September 5, 2023. Presented by the Pittsburgh Technology Council, Frank sat down with hosts Marie Pelloni and Jonathan Kersting to discuss her experience in the field of technology. Stephanie Weber, the director of Regional Initiatives for NCWIT, also joined to discuss Frank’s involvement and award with the NCWIT.
“Being interviewed and featured on the One Mic Stand podcast was an honor,” stated Frank. “The energy was amazing during the entire podcast, and I loved hearing Stephanie and Marie’s perspectives on the steps they are taking to revolutionize the future of tech for young girls through their partnership. It was an enriching experience that highlighted the importance of diversity and inclusion in shaping the future of technology.”
The annual NCWIT Aspirations in Computing High School Award is awarded to high school women, genderqueer, and non-binary students who demonstrate computing excellence and leadership. The award encourages high school students to pursue their passions in the field of technology. In 2023, Frank was honored as the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing National Winner.
“Winning the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing award was one of the most rewarding moments in my life. NCWIT invested in me by choosing me for the award, and now my goal is to pour that support into other young girls who want to pursue a career in the same field,” declared Frank. “To me, it was not just an award but rather a sign to keep going with my journey and continue to network and foster the relationships I built with the girls in the NCWIT community. The award has pushed me to become a leader in tech and provided me with the resources to do so.”
Frank is also a Stamps Scholar at Pitt. Beginning her journey at SCI, Frank is enthusiastic to build her skills in computing and information.
In addition to her coursework, Frank hopes to conduct research in the Department of Informatics and Networked Systems (DINS) during her time at SCI, focusing on accessibility and inclusivity in education.
“I am looking forward to getting involved in research in DINS for equity in STEM education. I am a big advocate on creating and implementing better curricula for computing education and AI in schools,” said Frank.
Over the summer, Frank will be working as a software engineering intern at Amazon. Next semester, she plans to earn her Amazon Web Services Cloud Practitioner certification to start her journey in the field of cloud computing. She is also finishing the Panther Leadership Academy and becoming an Outside the Classroom Curriculum (OCC) Ambassador.
Outside the classroom, Frank is closely involved in the Pitt community. She is a member of the Minority Association in Computing (MAC) and the Black Action Society (BAS).
Listen to the One Mic Stand podcast and learn more about Paige Frank!
--Alyssa Morales