TechGirlz graduates provide mentorship and assistance for program participants through advocacy and workshop design while continuing their own technology experience
Downers Grove, IL – October 26, 2020 — Nonprofit TechGirlz today introduced the new and returning members of its 2020-2021 Teen Advisory Board. Selected using competitive applications, the Board is made up of high school-aged TechGirlz program participants that serve as advisors and mentors for the program at-large. The program is now in its fifth year and due to a significant increase in the number of interested participants, the Board has been divided into three regions.
“TechGirlz is building a continuous path for girls to follow beginning in middle school and continuing on to a career in technology,” said TechGirlz Outreach Managers, Alicia Park and Danica Pascavage. “These inspiring high school girls are committed to continuing and growing their experience in the field as advocates, advisors, and mentors for others, especially the younger girls, within the program. We congratulate and welcome them to this year’s Board and are grateful for their service.”
The TechGirlz Teen Advisory Board empowers girls to continue in their journey towards further tech instruction and training with hands-on experiences helping both younger TechGirlz participants and staff. Responsibilities include helping to design new TechShopz workshops, connecting with middle school girls as they lead workshops, and raising awareness for the need to increase the number of tech programs serving young girls.
We have 30 young women joining TAB this year, 10 returning members and 20 newcomers. The high number of applicants led TechGirlz to divide the 2020-2021 Board into Eastern, Philly Metro, and Western groups. For this school year, the Board will work on projects including, creating new workshop topics, leading summer camps, starting after school clubs in their local middle school and more.
Members for the 2020-2021 Teen Advisory Board include:
Eastern Teen Advisory Board
- Trisha Srikanth, Wilmington, Delaware
- Puneetha Mallarapu, Cary, North Carolina
- Sarah Ridley, Durham, North Carolina
- Navya Alva, Cary, North Carolina
- Riley Lloyd, Raleigh, North Carolina
- Pracheeti Shikarkhane, Cary, North Carolina
- Anissa Basu, Saddle River, New Jersey
- Diya Patel, North Brunswick, New Jersey
- Amelie Nagle, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
- Bella Haden, Knoxville, Tennessee
- Rythama Chevendra, Ashburn, Virginia
Philly Metro Teen Advisory Board
- Riya Lakhani, Yardley, Pennsylvania
- Trevor Gardner, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Lucy Minchoff, Downingtown, Pennsylvania
- Katia Campos, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Lily Press, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
- Ava Saydam, Harleysville, Pennsylvania
- Anushka Levaku, Romansville, Pennsylvania
- Samshita Maram, Chester Springs, Pennsylvania
- Dani Laverty, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
- Sarah Ely, Yardley, Pennsylvania
- Lauren Phillips, Mount Laurel, New Jersey
- Julia Chan, Cherry Hill, New Jersey
- Anastasia Lukasheva, Voorhees, New Jersey
Western Teen Advisory Board
- Quinn Burns, Broomfield, Colorado
- Eesha Santosh, Lincolnshire, Illinois
- Ahania Soni,Evanston, Illinois
- Elise Buzzell, Mendota Heights, Minnesota
- Neeha Kurelli, Sugar Land, Texas
- Alyssa Price, Chicago, Illinois
TechGirlz National Outreach Manager Alicia Park will serve as advisor to the Eastern Teen Advisory Board. TechGirlz Philadelphia Outreach Manager Danica Pascavage will serve in the same capacity for the Philly Metro Teen Advisory Board. TechGirlz Chicago Outreach Coordinator, Sara Neiman, will serve as advisor for the Western Teen Advisory Board.
To learn more about TechGirlz and its programs, please visit http://www.techgirlz.org.
About TechGirlz
TechGirlz is a nonprofit program of Creating IT Futures that fosters a love for technology in middle school girls. Our free, open source technology courses can be used by anyone to inspire curiosity, impart confidence and build community as the foundation for the application of technology throughout a girl’s career and life. TechShopz courses have been taught by volunteer instructors in several states and four countries to tens of thousands of girls. To learn more or find out how you can participate, please visit http://www.techgirlz.org/.
ABOUT CREATING IT FUTURES
Founded in 1998 by CompTIA, Creating IT Futures is a 501(c)(3) charity with the mission of helping populations under-represented in the information technology industry and individuals who are lacking in opportunity to prepare for, secure, and be successful in IT careers. Learn more at www.creatingITfutures.org.
