Mazal tov to Natalie Broide and Mrs. Nancy Penchev, award-winners and role models!
Mazal tov to our very own Natalie Broide, Grade 11, and Nancy Penchev, our Juda and Maria Diener Lower School Media Specialist, for being honored by the National Center for Women & Information Technology! Natalie is a winner of the 2016 South Florida Regional Aspirations in Computing Award for her “computing-related aspirations and her demonstrated, outstanding aptitude and interest in information technology/computing; solid leadership ability; good academic history; and plans for post-secondary education.” For her Personal IB project last year, Natalie built an actual computer. Her interest in computer science then led her to seek summer opportunities to learn more. It was then that she was selected to participate in Girls Who Code: a prestigious national program designed to inspire, educate and equip girls with the computing skills to pursue 21st century opportunities.
Mrs. Penchev has been named the recipient of the 2016 Aspirations in Computing Educator Award, given to teachers who have demonstrated a commitment to encouraging young women’s aspirations in computing. Here at Scheck Hillel, she has developed our Girls Building STEAM Club for Grades 3-5 and has introduced innovative ways to teach and encourage students through design, robotics, writing and computer science.
Natalie and Mrs. Penchev will be presented with their awards in April; in the meantime we applaud Natalie’s talent, skill, ambition and achievement, and Mrs. Penchev’s work in educational technology and how she’s enriched Jewish education.
