• How do I apply for the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing? Follow the instructions in the Application Step-by-Step Guide to create an account and begin an application.
  • When can I apply for the 2023 NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing? The 2023 application season opens at 12:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, September 1, 2022 and closes at 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 20, 2022.
  • Who is eligible to apply? All women, genderqueer and nonbinary students in grades 9-12 are welcome to apply.
  • When is the parent/guardian approval and educator endorsement deadline? Parent/guardian approval of, and educator endorsement of, an application is required by 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 3, 2022. Parent/guardian approval is not required for applicants over 18 at the time of application submission.
  • How does my parent/guardian approve my participation in the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing program? When you create your account you can "Request Consent" on your dashboard. You can then enter your parent/guardian information and they are notified via email to approve your participation. Have your parent/guardian follow the Approval Step-by-Step guide to complete the approval process. You may resend the approval e-mail to your parent/guardian from your dashboard.
  • What if my parent/guardian does not have an email address? If your parent or guardian does not have an email address, they may download and follow the fax instructions. You may also upload the signed forms to your dashboard.
  • Who can endorse my application? The endorsement for the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing can be completed by a formal or informal educator (e.g., teacher, counselor, mentor, coach, professor, supervisor, etc.). The endorser is not restricted only to your CS teacher(s); it can be anyone who is familiar with your computing experience, achievements, and interests. If you are unsure if your endorser qualifies, please contact us at aichelp@ncwit.org, or use the support widget.
  • How does my educator endorse my application? Upon submitting your application, your educator will receive an e-mail asking them to complete an endorsement for your application. Educators are required to have an account in order to complete an endorsement. Have your educator follow the Endorsement Step-by-Step guide to complete the endorsement. You may resend the endorsement e-mail from your dashboard after you have submitted your application. Be sure to send the educator endorsement request to the email address the educator uses for their aspirations.org account. An endorsement is not required for your application to be considered for an award, but it is highly encouraged.
  • How will my application be scored? For details on how your application will be scored, please review the Application Scoring Guide.
  • Can I submit further information to support my application? Yes, there is an optional space in the application to provide links to further information such as a personal website or project portfolio. However, once you have submitted your application, no new information can be added.
  • I am not a native English speaker, do you offer the application in Spanish? Yes! In the portal, the essay questions on the application are provided both in English and Spanish. You may complete the application in the language of your choice, there is no "score benefit" to complete the application in one language over the other - please respond in the language you are most comfortable. You may access the full application in Spanish here, but please complete the application in the portal using the full translation and step-by-step application guide to help you. See Recursos en Español.
    I am not a native English speaker, do you offer the application in French? Yes, you may complete the application in the portal in either French or English. There is no score benefit to complete the application in one language over the other. You may access the full application in French here. See Ressources en Français.
  • I do not have internet access, can I submit the application offline? Yes, you may complete the application offline and submit to aichelp@ncwit.org or mail in the application. Please note all applications sent via mail must be postmarked no later than October 20, 2022. 
  • If I have applied in the past for the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing, can I apply again? Applicants may reapply each year; however, National Award winners are not eligible to win again. Regional Affiliate Award programs allow repeat recipients at their own discretion.
  • When will I be notified of the results of my application? Notifications for the National Award are sent out in January and notifications for the Regional Affiliate Award are sent by the end of February 2023. The award ceremonies take place through May 2023.
  • How do I nominate a teacher for the NCWIT Educator Award? We do not have formal nominations, but please fill out our form where you can encourage your teacher to apply for the award. 
  • Where can I find writing resources to help me complete my application essays? Applicants looking for guidance on essay writing can reference our writing resource and writing samples page. 
  • More questions? Join us for a live Q&A session!