Time to Get Ready! Gearing Up for the Aspirations Awards Season!

Aspirations Team Ammi Ludwick, Director of Aspirations Bridget Quinn, RAM, Aspirations in Computing Jennifer Manning, Program Manager, AspireIT Malia Frederickson, Program Manager, AiC Community & Collegiate Award Lauren VonRoenn, Operations & Educator Award Manager

Time to Get Ready! Timeline for AiC Program Season Goals for the new season Changes this year (Programs, Affiliate Applications, Educator Award) Gearing Up & Getting Started! Getting Girls to Apply: Promotion & Publicity

Timeline for Season August -Publicize & Promote, Gear Up Sept 15 th - Nov 7 th -Affiliate Licensing Agreement / MOU Period Sept 15 th – Nov 2 nd -Applications Open! Nov 2 nd – 7 th -Parent/Educator Endorsement WRAP-UP Period Nov 8 th – 19 th -First Application Review Period Nov 19 th – Dec 3 rd -Second Application Review Period Dec 15 th -Affiliate Event Dates Due Dec 15 th – 17 th -National Winners Announced Dec 17 th – Jan 31 st -Local Winners Announced Jan – May -Affiliate Award Events Held

Program Goals Revolutionizing the Face of Technology! Increase # of students inducted into AiC Increase # of students registered on aspirations.org aspirations.org Initiate outreach to applicants not selected as awardees Increase outreach to underrepresented communities & populations Increase sponsorship & sustainability of local Aspirations communities Increase recognition of all volunteers and community partners

AiC Educator Award This award recognizes teachers, counselors, & other educators that make a special effort to support girls’ interest in technology NEW THIS YEAR! To be considered for the award, educators are asked to complete a short, online application and endorse at least one student’s application for the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing. · Sept 15-Nov 2*Applications open · Nov 7 *Student Endorsements Due · Jan 31 *Announce winners Winners are publicly recognized at a local affiliate award event and receive prizes including an engraved award for both the educator and educator’s school and $1,000 towards a computing-related professional development activity. Learn more and apply beginning September 15, 2014 at

Updates for this Season Educator Award Collegiate Award AspireIT Aspirations Website Affiliate Application Licensing Agreement

Gearing Up & Getting Started! *Promote & Publicize! *Build up your team *Recruit reviewers *Get fiscal support / Reach out to fiscal partners *Select ceremony dates/and event venues (Please tell us your date as soon as possible ) *Utilize the toolkit at

Identify local channels to spread the word Schools, School Districts, & Youth Serving Organizations Media Social Media Sponsors &community partners Students & AiC Alum Colleagues, Contacts & Co-workers Promotion: Getting The Word Out

Promotion: Getting Girls to Apply! Schools and Youth-Serving Organizations Contact more than one individual at a school – include principal, guidance/career counselors, CS or IT teachersContact more than one individual at a school – include principal, guidance/career counselors, CS or IT teachers Follow up with phone calls Put together a list of youth-serving organizations – home- school networks, boys & girls clubs, Girl Scouts, 4H, etc.Put together a list of youth-serving organizations – home- school networks, boys & girls clubs, Girl Scouts, 4H, etc. Contact local or regional chapters of the CSTA for help Ask to drop by Computing or IT classes to announce the opportunity – enlist help of students or AiC AlumAsk to drop by Computing or IT classes to announce the opportunity – enlist help of students or AiC Alum

Promotion: Getting Girls to Apply! Media Announce in a press release – sample in the toolkit Recruit a media sponsor - local tv station or paper to help promote the award & ensure coverage Invite a local prominent member of the media to participate on your committee or visit schools to talk about the award

Promotion: Getting Girls to Apply! Social Media Use social media sites to spread the word – Facebook, Twitter Refer all to the Award for Aspirations in Computing Facebook page Follow and invite others to on Twitter. When Tweeting about Aspirations from your personal account, in the Tweets whenever possible Please use and encourage use of the hashtag for this year #NCWITAiC15

Promotion: Getting Girls to Apply! Award Publicity Kit Currently being updated Labeled ‘recruit_publicity kit’ doc in toolkit - talking points about the award - press release template - publicity ideas - sample outreach article/letter

Promotion: Getting Girls to Apply! Other Resources More samples, templates and other ideas in online toolkit Updated publicity posters will be sent out soon Contact us for more information or for help with other promotional ideas What are we missing? Share your best practices with each other! - join the Aspirations Award Coord Facebook page

More Ideas For Successful Outreach engage the PR department of a sponsoring organizations or committee member organizations to help with press efforts Identify media members or writers that specifically cover tech stories Don't overlook small community papers Don't forget about digital media such as blogs, online magazines, etc. Keep your Community webpage updated with the most current information (Aspirations.org website) Promotion: Getting Girls to Apply!

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