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Microsoft throws first DigiGirlz Day in Pittsburgh
http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/articlelive/articles/40642/1/Microsoft-throws-first-DigiGirlz-Day-in-Pittsburgh/Page1.html
Courier Newsroom

 
By Courier Newsroom
Published on 05/8/2008
 
Local high school students from diverse backgrounds attended the first DigiGirlz Day in Pittsburgh sponsored by the Microsoft Corp. and hosted at the University of Pittsburgh’s Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business. Dr. Audrey J. Murrell of the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz Graduate School of Business and Donna Woodall from the Microsoft Corp. hosted approximately 70 high school girls throughout the day.

Microsoft throws first DigiGirlz Day in Pittsburgh

Local high school students from diverse backgrounds attended the first DigiGirlz Day in Pittsburgh sponsored by the Microsoft Corp. and hosted at the University of Pittsburgh’s Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business. Dr. Audrey J. Murrell of the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz Graduate School of Business and Donna Woodall from the Microsoft Corp. hosted approximately 70 high school girls throughout the day.


DIGIGIRLZ PARTICIPANTS—The DigiGirlz Day took place at the Katz School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to meeting with successful female executives from Microsoft, the girls received hands-on opportunities to explore and interact with some of Microsoft’s most exciting tech tools and entertainment devices. 

“I’m a DigiGirrrl in a DigiWorrrld!” sung to the tune of “Barbie Girl” by Aqua was the impromptu chorus of many excited teenage girls throughout the day. The day focused around technology and issues concerning IT security in addition to dispelling the stereotypes surrounding careers in the IT field.

After students received their gift bags, including a copy of Microsoft Encarta 2008, a comprehensive encyclopedia, Linda M. Rosato-Barone, commander, Computer Operations Liaison for the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, hosted a presentation that highlighted the importance of safeguarding information in today’s digital society. A discussion session followed with Rosato-Barone and the girls, led by Brian Felder, strategic security advisor for Microsoft. Some attendees took these lessons to heart.

“I want to go to college and study criminal justice, maybe even forensic sciences for crime scene analysis,” said Gerika Jenkins, a senior from the Pittsburgh Public Schools, “and after today I’ve realized the need to take extra computer and technology courses to further that course of study.”

Later that day, the girls divided into teams and created mock public service announcement videos using Microsoft technology to highlight what they had learned earlier in the day. The teams competed to win prizes given by both Microsoft and the Katz Graduate School of Business.

Annie Hart, a junior at Oakland Catholic High School, noted at the end that “companies are looking for more women to fill roles in all areas, technology companies included. Women often take a different approach, a more cross-disciplinary approach and I think it was good of Microsoft to highlight that.”