Senior Sophia Prochnow was selected as a national runner-up for the Award for Aspirations in Computing. This award was given by the National Center for Women & Information Technology. Out of 3,135 applicants, Prochnow was among the 350 runner-ups selected.

Students from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and overseas US Military Bases applied for this award. In order to win this award, Prochnow wrote about the different tasks she had been working on with technology and what she wanted to do in the future with these skills.

“I’m extremely excited to receive the award,” Prochnow said. “Last year’s prize package was really good and that was only regional, so I can’t wait to see what the national one is.”

Prochnow won the regional version of the award last year. She has also been awarded the Xerox Award for Innovation and Information Technology from the University of Rochester in past years. Prochnow has been working on computer programming by herself since freshman year, but started taking classes at STA last year. Currently, Prochnow is in an independent study with Northwest Missouri State.

“It’s only me in the class,” Prochnow said.  “I just use their resources and take their tests and homework online.”

Prochnow continues to work with computer programming and plans to continue these skills in her future.