New Mexico Women Honored at Technology Event

    --  Janeen Anderson, CEO - Game Production Services
    --  Cheryl DeVaul, Director of Human Resources - Lovelace Respiratory
        Research Institute
    --  Dr. Stephanie Forrest, Chairman, Department of Computer Science - UNM
        School of Engineering
    --  Lt. Col Christine Gramlich, Director of Communications and Information -
        AFOTEC
    --  Marianne Granoff, Vice President - Supercomputing Challenge
    --  Tracy Hogg, Founder - SantaFeDontations.com/AlbuquerqueDonations.com
    --  Barbara Lopez, IT Director - PNM Resources

    --  Nerissa Whittington, Principal - bigbyte.cc Corp

Thirty-two (32) nominations for recognition based on the following criteria were reviewed by a panel of illustrious judges: Jamai Blivin - Innovate-Educate and NM Learning Network, Dr. Jill Brown - Albuquerque Academy, Caroline Dennis - Wired Nation, Irene Lee - Project GUTS and Santa Fe Institute, and Randy Toups - Dell, Inc. Find a list of nominees and judges at the NMTC website.

    --  Women in a technology field who exemplify volunteer service in the
        community as measured by service to community organizations, leadership
        in community efforts and/or financial support of community programs.
    --  Women in a technology field who have had a sustained career commitment
        to mentoring, a significant positive impact on their mentees' careers,
        and through their mentees have advanced research and development,
        entrepreneurship and/or growth of young women in a field of technology.
    --  Women in a technology field who exemplify an entrepreneurial spirit as
        measured by innovative business practices, superior use of technology
        and sustainability in a field of technology.

    --  Women in a technology field whose efforts have blazed a trail in a
        technology profession, and whose pioneering contributions have been
        outstanding and unique.

In addition to leadership awards, the Council awarded fourteen (14) educational scholarships and mentorships to deserving women who are pursuing a career in a technology field. The winners were selected from over 90 nominations by a panel of distinguished judges: Peter C. Anselmo Ph.D. - NM Institute of Mining and Technology; Len Malry - NM Higher Education Department; Brian Ormand Ed.D. - NMSU, and Laurie Schatzberg Ph.D. UNM Anderson School of Management.

The 2009 Women in Technology Scholarship Winners are:

    --  Jennifer Alexander, NM Highlands University - Masters Degree in Media
        Arts and Computer Science
    --  Rebecca Astorga, Dona Ana Community College - Associates Degree of
        Applied Science in Computer Technology
    --  Raelene Danny, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, Associates
        Degree in Computer Information Technology
    --  Patricia Gomez, El Dorado High School, Interest in Chemical Engineering
    --  Therese Johnson, University of New Mexico - Bachelor of Science in
        Computer Science
    --  Kori Keyes, New Mexico State University - Bachelor in Creative Media
    --  Whitney Land, University of New Mexico - Bachelor of Science in Computer
        Engineering
    --  Monica Lovato, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute - Interest in
        Robotics
    --  Felicia Lujan, University of Phoenix - MBA Program
    --  Virginia Marrujo, New Mexico Highlands university - Master's Degree in
        Media Arts/Computer Science
    --  Christina Montoya, ITT Technical Institute - Bachelor of Science in
        Information Technology
    --  Rebecca Neusser, Portales High School - Interest in Graphic Design
    --  Stephany Southward, Texico High School - Information Systems and Network
        Security

    --  Deborah Vigil, Santa Fe Community College - Associate of Applied Science
        in Computer Information Technology

Scholarships were funded through sponsorship by ABBA Technologies, Innovate Educate-New Mexico, ITT Technical Institute, Qwest, Technical Integration Group, TekSystems, and University of New Mexico - Anderson School of Management.

The awards ceremony featured NM Secretary of Public Education Veronica Garcia and a special panel of women technology leaders: Jennifer E. Smith, Sr. VP SAIC; Diane Bauer, Director, Field Operations at Cisco; and Caroline Dennis, President of Wired Nation. These panel members, led by emcee Augusta Meyers, engaged in a lively discussion and Q&A of the future opportunities and challenges in IT.

About the New Mexico Technology Council - NMTC is a member driven association of business and organization executive leaders, working together to promote the growth and success of New Mexico's technology sector. We believe that inspiring more women to choose technology careers is critical to ensuring that our country can compete in the global economy, that we maximize opportunities for innovation, and that the technology industries are as diverse and creative as the people it serves. Statistics reveal the need for women in technology:

    --  Women hold more than 50% of all professional occupations but makeup less
        than 25% of all information technology positions and only 22% of all
        science jobs.
    --  Only 13 percent of Fortune 500 technology companies are led by women
        corporate officers.

    --  The number of women pursuing science and technology-related careers is
        decreasing, at least partially due to a lack of female role models.

The New Mexico Business Weekly is the exclusive media sponsor for the Women in Technology awards.

New Mexico Technology Council website: http://www.nmtechcouncil.org/

SOURCE New Mexico Technology Council

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