National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) Award for Aspirations in Computing recipient Bekah Agwunobi plans to use computer science to drive social change

At USC’s Department of Computer Science, where she interned for two summers in professor Cyrus Shahabi’s Integrated Media Systems Center (IMSC), Behah Agwunobi came to the right place to turn that way of thinking into success.

“We assigned Bekah tougher and tougher tasks until basically asking her to code her own auction reverse pricing strategies and schemes,” says Prof. Shahabi.

“It was one of the first times I was faced with unbelievably challenging and rigorous computer science assignments, but I am so grateful because it taught me the value of persistence and resilience,” she says.
Her technical skill and can-do attitude have not gone unnoticed.

The 15-year-old was recently awarded the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) Award for Aspirations in Computing, recognizing outstanding girls and women in technology. She was one of 40 winners of the national award out of 3,600 applicants.

For more information please visit https://viterbischool.usc.edu/news/2018/01/former-intern-honored-national-award/