IGNITE Wins National Award
"Programs and Practices that Work:
Preparing Students for Nontraditional Careers"
IGNITE is an organization of women volunteers who got together some years ago to join forces and tackle the problem of scarcity of women in the technology industry (which is 15% currently). They hope to serve as strong role models and mentors to high school girl students on the verge of making a career choice.
Ignite provides various opportunities to young women like organizing job shadows, career talks and field trips to Microsoft. To reward these efforts, Ignite was presented with a "Programs and Practices that Work: Preparing Students for Nontraditional Careers" award sponsored by Association of Career & Technical Education (ACTE), the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity (NAPE), the National Women's Law Center (NWLC), and the National Association of State Directors of Career & Technical Education Consortium.
Founder Cathi Rodgveller was invited to Capitol Hill in Washington D.C to receive this award. Being the generous person that she is, she wanted her friends around her who helped her in small ways (and who she had helped in million ways). I went as part of this brigade of women J The awards day was packed with appointments in Capitol Hill. The press release constituted a marvelous delivery by Cathi, the speech was heartfelt and inspiring to the audience. The audience (senators, congress and press people), were curious about what they (or we) could do to target younger girls, at middle school level.
After the press release there was a photo session and discussions with press people from local newspapers. The appointment with congressman Jay Inslee was handled by his staff member Beth Osborne, who made notes to pass on to the congressman. We then met Maria Cantwell, who was very enthusiastic about the idea of Ignite and promised to help in any way she could. The meeting with Patty Murray went off really well too. They could see our passion and enthusiasm for Ignite reverberating around us, I’m sure. After all these years of effort, Ignite got its just rewards and this is just the beginning!
On a more personal level, this experience really changed me. After meeting this powerful bunch of women who I could I see as role models and good friends, I feel more confident and bold. Ignite has been almost a life changing experience for me.
Divya Narayanan
Software Tester
Microsoft Corporation
