SCHOOL NEWS
Magnificat Recognized for Work to Further Gender Equity in Computer Science For the second year in a row, Magnificat received the AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Award. Magnificat is one of 20 Ohio high schools and 1,119 schools nationwide that earned the award this year, which acknowledges schools’ work toward equal gender representation in the field of computer science. Currently, only 19 percent of AP Computer Science test-takers are women, and women make up only 20 percent of computer science professionals. While Magnificat has offered coding courses since 2015, the Computer Science & Innovation department was established in 2018 and has expanded to include nine unique course offerings, including three AP courses. Over the last three years, interest in these courses has increased significantly, and there will be more Magnificat students enrolled in STEM classes than ever before during the 2021-2022 school year. Department Chair Colleen Greller says, “We are proud of the growing computer science offerings we provide, and this award highlights Magnificat’s commitment to giving young women the knowledge, skills, and confidence to excel in the STEM fields as we work to close the gender gap.” A key element of Magnificat’s Computer Science & Innovation curriculum is partnerships with organizations like NASA, Hyland Software, and Motogo Cleveland, who offer students a multitude of experiential learning opportunities to accompany classroom learning. In her remarks regarding this year’s recipients, College Board chief of global policy and external relations Stefanie Sanford says, “Young women deserve an equal opportunity to become the next generation of entrepreneurs, engineers and tech leaders. Closing the gap in computer science education empowers young women to build the future they want.” As Magnificat works to build a future in which women are equally represented in computer science and innovation professions, immediate plans include the addition of a course on Blockchain cryptocurrency for the 2022-2023 school year.
Three Magnificat Students Qualify as National Merit Finalists This year, three Magnificat seniors, Maya Daw, Lana Haddad, and Megan Miller, qualified as National Merit Finalists. These students scored in the top one percent of test takers on the PSAT in their junior year, which qualified them as National Merit Semifinalists and allowed them to submit the National Merit Finalist application as seniors. Students are evaluated on academic achievement, extracurriculars and community service, and a personal essay, and less than one half of one percent of applicants are named National Merit Finalists. Congratulations, Maya, Lana, and Megan!
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MAGNIFICAT MAGAZINE | A MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNAE AND FRIENDS OF MAGNIFICAT HIGH SCHOOL | SPRING | SUMMER 2021
