Women in HPC sponsors student attendance at 2024 Grace Hopper Celebration
Purdue’s Women in High-Performance Computing (WHPC) group recently sponsored three women students to attend the 2024 Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) of Women in Computing, which took place in Philadelphia earlier this month.
“Grace Hopper was an incredible experience, filled with uplifting moments and valuable professional development opportunities,” says Elisa Chen, a junior in computer science who was one of the sponsored students.
“The supportive environment at the conference truly highlighted the strength of the women and nonbinary community in tech,” she adds.
The other Purdue attendees agree with her about the inspiring and transformative nature of the conference experience.
“I’ve always felt a hint of imposter syndrome, wondering if I truly belonged in computer science,” says Ishwarya Samavedhi, also a junior in computer science. “But my biggest takeaway from GHC is that I realized my values and ideas matter just as much as anyone else’s. These incredible women reminded me that all bring something to the table.”
“It was so fun and motivating to see so many other women in tech with similar goals,” adds Ankitha Mallekav, a senior in computer engineering who attended the same conference virtually last year. “Seeing their achievements and passion in the field encouraged me even more to pursue my own path in technology.”
Women who attended GHC had the opportunity to hear inspiring talks from industry leaders, explore career opportunities through different workshops and panels, and attend a career fair to connect directly with top tier companies.
Many of the women who attended GHC remarked that the people they met at the conference were by far the most meaningful part of the experience.
“From CEOs, principal engineers and renowned actresses to fellow undergraduates, I had the chance to connect with so many inspiring individuals who shared their personal journeys,” says Chen. “Hearing about the challenges they’ve faced and overcome made me even more motivated to keep pushing forward.”
“Being surrounded by such talented, passionate, and high-achieving women was both inspiring and empowering,” adds Samavedhi.
Purdue WHPC is part of a broader engagement initiative by the Rosen Center for Advanced Computing (RCAC), and is led by women staffers affiliated with RCAC. WHPC is a diverse community encompassing undergraduate, graduate, staff and faculty men and women who are interested in exposing women to high-performance computing and encouraging their pursuit of research and careers in HPC and other technology fields.
Within the WHPC initiative, RCAC extends partial travel assistance to undergraduate and graduate students, empowering their participation in various national conferences aligning with WHPC’s objectives. Applicants are assessed on their demonstrated experience with advanced computation and must explain what they hope to gain from participating in the conference. To be eligible, an applicant must identify as a woman and be an undergrad or grad student maintaining good academic standing.
For full eligibility requirements, and to apply for this scholarship, please visit the WHPC Scholarship page.
“The support from Purdue’s Women in High Performance Computing (WHPC) was key in making this experience at the Grace Hopper Conference possible for me,” says Samavedhi. “Their sponsorship allowed me to access opportunities that I would not have had on my own. It wasn’t just about financial support, but also about the belief they placed in me and in other women pursuing careers in tech.”
“Attending a conference like Grace Hopper offers both incredible opportunities for professional and personal growth. The connections I made and the lessons I learned were invaluable, and I believe every student interested in tech should have the chance to experience something this impactful,” adds Chen.
In addition to the scholarship program, Purdue WHPC organizes a range of activities including regular meetings to discuss technical HPC-related issues of interest, opportunities to network with the WHPC community, a mentorship program, workshops, and exposure to external resources and opportunities.
To learn more about Purdue Women in HPC or be added to the mailing list, contact whpc@purdue.edu.