Time to Get Ready!

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

2. Aspirations Team Ammi Ludwick, Director of Aspirations Ammi.ludwick@ncwit.org Bridget Quinn, RAM, Aspirations in Computing 816-721-1217 Bridget.quinn@ncwit.org Jennifer Manning, Program Manager, AspireIT Jennifer.manning@ncwit.org Malia Frederickson, Program Manager, AiC Community & Collegiate Award Malia.fredrickson@nwit.org Lauren VonRoenn, Operations & Educator Award Manager Lauren.vonroenn@ncwit.org

3. Time to Get Ready! • Timeline for 2014-15 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

4. Timeline for 2014-2015 Season August -Publicize & Promote, Gear Up Sept 15th - Nov 7th -Affiliate Licensing Agreement / MOU Period Sept 15th – Nov 2nd -Applications Open!  Nov 2nd – 7th -Parent/Educator Endorsement WRAP-UP Period Nov 8th – 19th -First Application Review Period Nov 19th – Dec 3rd -Second Application Review Period Dec 15th -Affiliate Event Dates Due Dec 15th – 17th -National Winners Announced Dec 17th – Jan 31st -Local Winners Announced Jan – May -Affiliate Award Events Held

5. 2014-2015 Program Goals Revolutionizing the Face of Technology! • Increase # of students inducted into AiC • Increase # of students registered on 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

6. 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 www.aspirations.org/educatoraward.

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

8. 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 www.aspirations.org

9. Promotion: Getting The Word Out • 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

10. 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 teachers • Follow up with phone calls • 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 Alum

11. 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

12. 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 follow @NCWITAIC and @NCWIT on Twitter. When Tweeting about Aspirations from your personal account, tag @NCWITAIC in the Tweets whenever possible • Please use and encourage use of the hashtag for this year #NCWITAiC15

13. 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

14. 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

15. Promotion: Getting Girls to Apply! • 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)

16. Thank You! Contact us at aspirations@ncwit.org & visit www.aspirations.org