Chattahoochee High Senior Named 'Girl Of The Year'

JOHNS CREEK, GA — Chattahoochee High School senior Sri Vaishnavi Ghantasala was named Girl of the Year by the Women in Technology organization on Nov. 14, a group dedicated to empowering girls and women to excel in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) careers from the classroom to the boardroom. About 1,000 Women in Technology members gathered for their annual awards banquet in the Georgia Aquarium Ballroom to name their Women of the Year in a number of categories including non-profit organizations, for-profit businesses (small, medium, and large), volunteer of the year, and girl of the year.

Ghantasala was one of three finalists nominated for the honor - all of whom were in attendance for the event along with their families. As the Girl of the Year winner, Ghantasala received a $7,500 scholarship from State Farm, a Dell laptop computer, an iPhone from ATT, and more.

The Girl of the Year award was created in 2012 as a part of Women in Technology's commitment to support the entire lifecycle of a woman's career in STEAM. Its purpose is to recognize a girl who has demonstrated a strong interest in STEAM, who has been fully engaged in one or more Women in Technology GIRLS programs during the year, who is respectful and encouraging to others, who is credited with exemplary performance in education and school citizenship, and who has created a lasting and positive impression on a Women in Technology GIRLS sponsor host, the Women in Technology Office, and Women in Technology Volunteers.

Fulton County Schools' Chief Technology Officer Serena Sacks was in attendance at the event. Sacks herself was named Women in Technology Woman of the Year (non-profit) and then sat on the Board of Directors.

"We are so proud of Ms. Ghantasala's accomplishments," Sacks said. "She is not only representing herself and her proud family here tonight, but she is representing all the talented and hard-working students in our school system who have set their sights on a career in STEAM. She is an outstanding role model and is clearly showing the way to a bright and promising future for young women everywhere."