Showing posts with label STEM fields. Show all posts
Showing posts with label STEM fields. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Governor McAuliffe Announces Submission Period Open for Governor’s Technology Awards Entries

English: Former DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe spea...
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
~ Submissions highlight IT-driven improvements in government efficiency ~

RICHMOND -- Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, Secretary of Technology Karen Jackson and Chief Information Officer of the Commonwealth Sam Nixon today officially invite entries to the 2014 Governor’s Technology Awards. For 17 years, the prestigious program has recognized the success of public sector information technology (IT) projects that improve government service delivery and efficiency.

Nine award categories recognize the work of local, state and educational entities. Submissions focus on improvements in the business of government made possible by strategic use of IT. All entries must be submitted by a Virginia public body. Entries must be submitted by July 24.

Nominations will be evaluated by a committee of judges that includes IT leaders from state agencies, localities, the legislature, the courts and education. Awards will be presented to honorees at a special ceremony during the Commonwealth of Virginia Innovative Technology Symposium (COVITS) slated Sept.3-4. Executive summaries of winning entries will be posted online to provide inspiration and best practice examples to peers and partners.

Full program details and a list of last year’s winners are available on the event website,
www.covits.virginia.gov; follow @COVITS and #TechinVA on Twitter for news and updates.

The 2014 Governor’s Technology Awards categories are:

·    Cross-Boundary Collaboration on IT Service Delivery Initiatives: Recognizes the innovative use of IT to share data easily across boundaries, create knowledge-sharing
      culture, support common business processes or promote innovative partnership programs. Entries should be submitted jointly by at least two government entities.
·    IT as Efficiency Driver - Government to Citizen: Recognizes the innovative use of IT to improve citizen access to and service from governmental entities. Included are projects which improve citizens' electronic interaction with government, promote availability, usability and/or transparency of information and increase public awareness and adoption of services.
·    IT as Efficiency Driver - Government to Business: Recognizes the innovative use of IT to promote efficiency by improving business access to and service from governmental entities. Included are projects to improve business' electronic interaction with government, promote availability, usability and/or transparency of information and increase business awareness and adoption of available services.
·    IT as Efficiency Driver - Government to Government: Recognizes the innovative use of IT to promote efficiency in government. This category promotes projects that enable organizations to do more with less. Results realized may include a dollar return on investment, realignment of staff time and/or newly transparent processes/information.
·    Innovative Use of Technology in Local Government: Recognizes the innovative use of IT to solve a business problem at the local level. This category is open to any local government entity, including social services, first responders and GIS practitioners.
·    Innovative Use of Technology in Education: Recognizes the innovative use of IT to support the unique missions of Virginia's schools, colleges and universities. Cooperative projects between educational institutions and other governmental entities, including research and development programs, fall into this category.
·    Innovative Use of Big Data and Analytics: Recognizes the innovative use of technology in collecting, storing, retrieving and analyzing a variety of structured and unstructured data sources.
·    Innovative Use of Open Data: Recognizes the innovative use of technology and transparency in making data available to citizens, businesses or other government entities. Preference will be given to those projects that encourage and facilitate creative and low-cost utilization of information to expand and enhance citizen services and engagement.
·    Best Citizen Portal: Recognizes the innovative use of an online portal that demonstrates innovation, functionality, attractiveness, efficiency and ease of use. Open to any Virginia government organization, agency or jurisdiction that is citizen-facing.

Criteria for Evaluation
Entrants should illustrate how the submitted initiative meets the following benchmarks; equal weight will be given to each:
    Business proposition: A clear statement of the business problem, its target audience, and how the new solution leverages IT tools to solve the problem.
    Innovation and technological merit: What tools were used? What makes this solution innovative?
·        Value: Note quantitative metrics such as usage, transaction times, cost savings/avoidance and return on investment; also note qualitative benefits such as improvements to citizen and/or employee experience. Include collaboration if applicable.
    Success: How well did the project attain the stated business goals and objectives?
      Clearly link the outcome to the business proposition set at the beginning of the project.

Eligibility for Awards
·        All entries must be submitted by a recognized Virginia public body. All entered projects must now be in use and have quantifiable outcomes.
·        Private sector organizations may assist in the development of an application for a government partner but will not be officially recognized in the awards ceremony unless noted in the category.
·        Submissions should focus on improvements in the business of government and go beyond a description of a private sector solution to describe the business need that necessitated the project and how the project succeeded.
·        Entries should portray projects that currently are providing service. Subsequent phases may be mentioned, but the measured success of the live phase is judged.
·        Public bodies may submit multiple projects, but only one entry per category will be accepted from each. The same program should not be submitted in more than one category.
·        Collaborative applications representing partnerships between governmental entities are strongly encouraged.

Prior Governor's Technology Award winning projects are not eligible.

All nominations must be received by July 24, 2014, using the online submission form at

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Mrs. McAuliffe and Virginia Council on Women Announce the 3rd Annual STEM Essay Contest Winners

The Governor's Mansion in Virginia, 1905
The Governor's Mansion in Virginia, 1905 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Council awarded five scholarships to female juniors and seniors pursuing STEM careers at institutions of higher education, the highest award winner receiving a $10,000 scholarship. 270 young women from across the Commonwealth submitted essays focusing on the student’s vision for a future STEM. Scholarships were presented to the recipients at the Science Museum’s Up & Atom Women’s Leadership Breakfast.

While announcing the STEM essay contest award recipients, First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe said, “One of the top priorities of the McAuliffe administration is to advance STEM education and workforce training across the Commonwealth. We need to encourage more young women to excel in these high demand STEM fields, so they can be leaders in the industries that will make Virginia more competitive in a global economy. An innovative program like the STEM Essay Contest is just one tool we can use to build awareness of the great career pathways our students are pursuing in every region in Virginia.”

The award recipients are as follows:

-        First Place, $10,000 scholarship award: Jennifer Louie of Chancellor High School, Fredericksburg, VA
-        Second Place, $7,500 scholarship award: Jessica Sun of Chantilly High School, Chantilly, VA
-        Third Place, $2,500 scholarship award: Melissa Angell of Osbourn Park High School, Manassas, VA
-        Fourth Place, $2,500 scholarship award: Kaela Frazier of Bruton High School, Williamsburg, VA
-        Fifth Place, $2,500 scholarship award: Brittany Huffman of George C. Marshall High School, Falls Church, VA

Applicants were required to be females who reside in Virginia, are enrolled as a junior or senior in high school and hold at least a 2.5 GPA. 

The Council extends their sincere thanks to all of the sponsors and judges of this year’s STEM Scholarship Awards.  The sponsors were:  Capital One; Morrison & Foerster; Holland & Knight; Hunton & Williams; KPMG; McGuireWoods LLP; Murphy & McGod; BonSecours; Range Resources; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; Troutman Sanders.  The judges who generously gave their time in judging entries were: Barbara Kapas, Northern Virginia; Nikki Nicholau, Richmond; Mary Quillen, Blacksburg; Barbara Fuhrmann, Richmond; Kinsey Peeler, Richmond; Laura Mandela, Burke; Marjorie Brahms Signer, Arlington; Kelly Stuart, Richmond; Marty Wilson, Richmond; Olivia Gans, Fairfax; Brook Trible, Richmond; Donna Hearn, Charlottesville; Susan Green, Richmond; Belinda Ragonese, Richmond; Kimberly Snipes, Richmond; Donna Ciliberto, Richmond; Katie Crepps, Richmond; Catherine Harris, Richmond; Christine Hales, Richmond; Juanita Lasswell, Richmond

The purpose of the Virginia Council on Women is to help women reach their potential and maximize their contributions to society and the Commonwealth as wage earners and citizens.  The Council has initiated several projects to meet this goal.  One is the annual STEM essay contest for young women in high school.  For more information on the Council or on available sponsorship opportunities, please visit: https://commonwealth.virginia.gov/about/council-on-women/

The mission of the Science Museum of Virginia is to inspire Virginians to enrich their lives through science.  The annual Up & Atom Women’s Leadership Breakfast helps support its role in STEM education.  Literacy in STEM disciplines is vital to prepare youth for an ever changing, increasingly complex world. For more information on the Science Museum of Virginia, please visit:www.smv.org.
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Monday, March 10, 2014

Governor McAuliffe and Virginia Council on Women Announce the 3rd Annual STEM Essay Contest

English: Former DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe spea...
 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Governor Terry McAuliffe and First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe to Serve as Co-Chairs


RICHMOND – Today Governor McAuliffe and the Virginia Council on Women, in collaboration with the Science Museum of Virginia, announced the 3rd annual STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Essay Contest for high school junior and senior girls.

The Council will award one $5,000 scholarship to a female junior or senior who will be pursuing a STEM career at an institution of higher education. Other scholarships may be awarded at the discretion of the Council.

The STEM Essay Contest was launched in 2012 with 170 young ladies from across the Commonwealth submitting essays focusing on the student’s vision for a future STEM.  The Council raised $10,000 and made three scholarship awards.

In 2013, the Council received 330 essays submissions and raised $22,000 to distribute in scholarship awards.  Sponsors included Capital One, Holland and Knight, Hunton & Williams, KPMG, McGuire Woods, MeadWestvaco, Skanska, Bon Secours health System, Range Resources-Pine Mountain, Inc., Council Member Mais Abousy, and LeClair Ryan.  In addition to the top three scholarship recipients, the Council awarded five $2,000 honorable mention scholarships.  Scholarships were presented to the recipients at the Science Museum’s Up & Atom Women’s Leadership Breakfast.

 Speaking about the contest, Governor Terry McAuliffe said, “Encouraging all of our students to learn and succeed in high demand STEM fields is critical to Virginia’s ability to compete in the 21st Century economy. I am pleased that the Virginia Council on Women and the Science Museum of Virginia are offering this contest yet again, and expanding their efforts to encourage Virginia’s young women to lead the future in these key areas. Innovative ideas like the STEM Essay Contest help open our students to new learning experiences and strengthen Virginia’s ability to prepare our children for future success.”

Ms. Tracy Key, Chair of the Council, commented, “The Council believes opportunities offered to women early in life will help lead to their future successes, and supporting young ladies who want to pursue a career in STEM is critical to our future workforce.”

To be eligible, one must be a female who resides in Virginia, be enrolled as a junior or senior in high school and hold at least a 2.5 GPA.  Applications and guidelines are available online at:http://www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/information/council-on-women/. Entries must be submitted byMarch 30, 2014.  The winning essays will be selected by a panel of judges who hold a degree in or work in STEM fields.

Winners will be notified by April 25, 2014.  The scholarship award(s) will be presented at the 2014 Up & Atom Women’s Leadership Breakfast on May 7, 2014 at the Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 West Broad Street in Richmond.

The purpose of the Virginia Council on Women is to help women reach their potential and maximize their contributions to society and the Commonwealth as wage earners and citizens.  The Council has initiated several projects to meet this goal.  One is the annual STEM essay contest for young women in high school.  For more information on the Council or on available sponsorship opportunities, please visit: http://www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/information/council-on-women/.

The mission of the Science Museum of Virginia is to inspire Virginians to enrich their lives through science.  The annual Up & Atom Women’s Leadership Breakfast helps support its role in STEM education.  Literacy in STEM disciplines is vital to prepare youth for an ever changing, increasingly complex world. For more information on the Science Museum of Virginia, please visit: www.smv.org.
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