Mount Saint Mary Academy junior Kaitlyn Pellicano of Dunellen has been named the winner of the 2012 NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing for the Philadelphia region. The award, sponsored by Microsoft, Motorola Solutions Foundation, and the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT), recognizes young high school women for their computing-related achievements and interests as part of an effort to encourage more young women to choose careers in technology.
Pellicano is one of only eleven award winners from high schools across the Delaware Valley selected for their outstanding aptitude and interest in information technology and computing, solid leadership ability, good academic history, and plans for post-secondary education.
“Encouraging young women’s interest in technology careers is critical: our workforce needs their creativity and their innovation,” said Lucy Sanders, CEO and Co-founder of NCWIT.
Pellicano, an aspiring computer engineer, is the programmer for Mount Saint Mary’s robotics team and was recently honored by Somerset County for contributions she has made as part of the school’s Communications Club. This is the second consecutive year she has been honored by the NCWIT. She will receive this most recent award at a ceremony on March 21 at the University of Pennsylvania.
NCWIT is the National Center for Women & Information Technology, a coalition of over 300 prominent corporations, academic institutions, government agencies, and nonprofits working to increase women’s participation in IT. NCWIT’s work spans K-12 and higher education through industry and academic careers.
Located in Watchung, New Jersey, Mount Saint Mary Academy is a Catholic, independent school which provides an exemplary college preparatory education for young women in grades 9 through 12. Founded in 1908 as a sponsored work of the Sisters of Mercy, the Mount remains committed to challenging each student to develop her fullest potential in a Christian atmosphere of love and caring.

