ACM Illinois Tech

Beyond Tech: Celebrating the Strength of Women ??? Women’s History Month is often about highlighting achievements in careers and innovation, but womanhood is more than titles and accolades. It’s about resilience, creativity, leadership, and the everyday victories that often go unspoken. ?? Did you know? Women’s brains are wired for multitasking, thanks to a larger corpus callosum, allowing for stronger connections between the left and right hemispheres. No wonder women excel at balancing responsibilities! ?? Fun Fact: The first-ever computer algorithm was written by a woman (Ada Lovelace)—but so was the world’s first novel (The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu in the 11th century). Women have been writing history for centuries! ?? Resilience Unmatched: Studies show that women have a higher pain tolerance than men—not just physically, but emotionally too. Whether it’s in tech, business, or life, women push forward despite the odds. But let’s not just talk about facts. Let’s celebrate the small wins. The late-night study sessions. The job applications after a rejection. The courage to step into a male-dominated field. The quiet confidence of knowing you belong. ?? What’s one thing about being a woman that you wish was celebrated more? Drop your thoughts in the comments! Here’s to celebrating womanhood in all its forms, because every story, every journey, and every dream matters.? Wishing all the strong women out there a very Happy Women's Day! #WomenInTech #WomensHistoryMonth #CelebrateWomen #BreakingBarriers #Empowerment #ACMIIT?

Breaking Barriers: Women in Tech – Then vs. Now??? The journey of women in tech has been one of resilience, innovation, and breaking barriers. While challenges still exist, the progress is undeniable. ?? Then: In 1984, women made up 37% of Computer Science degrees.? ?? Now: Today, that number is around 20%—but rising thanks to increased awareness and initiatives. ?? Then: The first software engineers were women, but the industry shifted toward being male dominated in the mid-20th century.? ?? Now: Women are leading some of the biggest tech companies and AI advancements worldwide. ?? Then: Ada Lovelace envisioned the first algorithm before computers even existed.? ?? Now: Women like Fei-Fei Li (AI expert) and Reshma Saujani (Girls Who Code) are shaping the future of technology. While progress has been made, representation still lags in leadership, pay equity, and technical roles.? ?? What’s one challenge women in tech still face today? Drop your thoughts in the comments. Join us as we continue celebrating Women in Tech leading up to our Women in Tech Panel on March 8th! #WomenInTech #BreakingBarriers #DiversityInTech #WomensHistoryMonth #ACMIIT?

Women Who Changed Tech – The Hidden Pioneers ?? When we think about tech innovators, names like Alan Turing, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates often come to mind. But what about the women who shaped the digital world as we know it? ?? Hedy Lamarr – Not just a Hollywood star, but the inventor of frequency-hopping technology, the foundation of Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth. ?? Ellen Williams – A physicist whose work in nanotechnology and energy has shaped future scientific applications. ?? Radia Perlman – The “Mother of the Internet,” who designed the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), making modern networking possible. ?? Joan F. Brennecke – A chemical engineer leading advancements in green chemistry and sustainable energy solutions. ?? Katherine Johnson – A NASA mathematician whose calculations sent astronauts to space and back safely, breaking barriers in both tech and aerospace. These women, and so many more, paved the way for today’s tech innovators. Their contributions often went unnoticed, but their impact is undeniable. ?? Who is a woman in tech that inspires you? Drop their name in the comments and share their story! Let’s amplify the voices of women who are shaping the future. ?? Stay tuned as we continue our Women in Tech series, leading up to the Women in Tech Panel on March 8th! #WomenInTech #TechPioneers #BreakingBarriers #HiddenFigures #ACMIIT #WomensHistoryMonth

Celebrating Women’s History Month – A Tribute to Trailblazers in Tech March is Women’s History Month—a time to celebrate the remarkable contributions of women who have shaped history, driven innovation, and broken barriers across industries. In tech, we stand on the shoulders of pioneers like Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer, and Grace Hopper, who revolutionized modern computing. But this month isn’t just about looking back, it’s about recognizing the women shaping the future of tech today and ensuring the next generation is empowered to do the same. At ACM, we are dedicating this week to celebrating Women in Tech through a series of engaging posts, stories, and discussions, leading up to our Women in Tech Panel on March 8th. ?? What to Expect: ?? Stories of women who changed the landscape of technology. ?? Insights on the progress we’ve made—and what’s next. ?? Fun and interactive discussions on breaking barriers in tech. Join us in honoring past, present, and future women in tech. Stay tuned for an exciting week ahead! #WomensHistoryMonth #WomenInTech #BreakingBarriers #ACMIIT #TechForAll

Crack the Code 2 – ICPC Workshop Recap! This past week, we had the pleasure of collaborating with Professor Michael Lee, who led our second Crack the Code session—an ICPC workshop focused on tackling common competitive programming problems. Participants explored different approaches while sharpening their problem-solving skills. Key takeaways from the workshop: ?? Understanding the problem first – A common mistake is jumping into coding too soon. Take time to break down the problem, clarify constraints, and identify edge cases before writing code. ?? Mathematical intuition matters –Some problems require minimal coding but benefit from a strong analytical approach. Developing a mathematical perspective can simplify problem-solving. ?? There are multiple approaches – Programmers sometimes overcomplicate solutions or overlook simpler, more efficient methods. Exploring different strategies helps refine problem-solving techniques. As we continue building a strong problem-solving foundation, we will soon shift towards implementing these solutions through coding in upcoming sessions. ?? Next workshop: March 13th, followed by a study session in the evening! Looking forward to another engaging session. #CompetitiveProgramming #ICPC #ProblemSolving #CrackTheCode #ACMIIT #CodingTechniques

Crack the Code – ICPC Workshop Recap! ?? ACM had the privilege of working with the ICPC committee to host an insightful workshop led by Professor Michael Lee. The session focused on Competitive Programming and its impact on problem-solving and technical interviews. The workshop covered: ?? Fundamentals of Competitive Programming – Understanding its core concepts and techniques. ?? Sharpening Coding Skills – How competitive programming helps write efficient, optimized code and builds confidence for coding challenges. ?? Problem-Solving Workflow – Strategies to approach problems, analyze different algorithms, and develop intuition for selecting the best approach. ?? ICPC & Global Competitions – Insights into regional and world competitions, sparking excitement among students. ?? Resources for Practice – A curated list of platforms to enhance problem-solving abilities. The session provided valuable guidance on how to think like a competitive programmer, reinforcing the importance of structured problem-solving. ?? For students, stay tuned for our next workshop on 27th February focused on fundamental concepts and techniques to help prepare for live competitions. #CompetitiveProgramming #ICPC #CodingChallenges #ProblemSolving #ACMIIT #CrackTheCode

?? Exciting News for the Chicago Tech Community! ?? We are thrilled to announce that we will be hosting ScarletHacks from April 5th to April 6th - a 24-hour hackathon, designed for students to innovate, collaborate, and showcase their talent. Check us out at www.scarlethacks.com For Students: - Who: College students passionate about coding, design, and innovation. - What: A chance to work on real-world challenges, network with industry experts, and win amazing prizes. - When: April 5th-6th - Where: Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago (details on our website) For Businesses - We are actively seeking sponsorship opportunities to make this event even better. By supporting ScarletHacks, your business can: - Connect with emerging tech talent. - Gain brand exposure within the local tech community. - Contribute to fostering innovation and growth in our region. - Support projects that will make a meaningful impact. If your organization is interested in sponsoring us, please reach out to us through our email. Email: [email protected] Let's come together to inspire innovation and build the future of technology in Chicago! #ScarletHacks #Hackathon #ChicagoTech #SponsorshipOpportunity

?? Career Elevation Workshop – A Huge Success! ?? Last week, ACM at Illinois Tech hosted an incredible Career Elevation Workshop, bringing together industry professionals and IIT alumni working in major tech companies like JP Morgan Chase, Capital One, AssetWatch, Honeycomb Insurance, ATC Transportation, Avanade, Illinois Institute of Technology, and Discover to provide one-on-one resume reviews and career guidance to our students. Each student had the unique opportunity to sit down with experienced professionals, gaining personalized feedback on their resumes—something that is often difficult to come by in today’s fast-paced industry. Discussions ranged from resume formatting, tone, structure, and skill placement to insights on what truly catches a recruiter’s attention. Beyond resume reviews, this event was a valuable networking opportunity, allowing students to connect with professionals, understand current industry expectations, and refine their approach to job applications. The insights shared will undoubtedly help our attendees take their careers to the next level! ? A huge thank you to our incredible guests—Erik Q., Erick Torres, Prince Hodonou, Priya Rajendran, Diana Dang, Jasleen Bedi, MS, Aleksander Popovic and Tabor Alemu —for taking the time out of your busy schedules to mentor and guide our students. Your expertise and advice were invaluable, and we look forward to collaborating again! ?? Big shoutout to the ACM board for bringing the vision to life! From planning to execution, you turned an idea into an unforgettable experience. ?? To all students—stay tuned for more such events! #CareerGrowth #ResumeWorkshop #Networking #ACMIIT #ProfessionalDevelopment #Mentorship