Minnesota Aspirations in Computing Technology Exploration Award
ELIGIBILITY • TIMELINE • RESOURCES • PRIZES • TEAM
The Technology Exploration Award recognizes high school students who take the initiative to set up meetings with and learn from technology practitioners. Students who pursue and earn this award will gain a deeper understanding of various technology careers and the paths to those careers, and benefit from building their professional networks earlier in life.
The path to earning this award provides students with professional skills and experiences that are not part of the curriculum in most schools, increasing the chance that they have opportunities that are not usual for high school students.
Join the Technology Exploration Award Webinar on Monday, November 24th from 7-8pm CT.
Add the event to your calendar (links are at the bottom of the invitation) or click here to join at the time of the call.
Eligibility
Students in grades 9-12 who live in Minnesota are eligible to participate.
Who is a Technology Practitioner?
An eligible practitioner is someone who provides technology skills and services in a part-time or full-time capacity and has at least 2 years of technology related work experience.
Application Information and Timeline
- Monday, November 24th: A webinar will be held to discuss the award details and walk through the process of applying for the Technology Exploration Award.
- Tuesday, November 25th: The submission period opens and applicants can begin submitting interviews.
- Saturday, February 28th: Registration closes.
- Tuesday, March 31st: The submission period ends.
Award recognition occurs in April, 2026.
Award decisions are based on an individual’s completion of the following:
- The student must conduct interview meetings with 5 technology practitioners between November 25 and March 31, 2026
These interviews:
- Must be initiated and conducted by the student
- Cannot be with family members
- Must be at least 45-60 minutes each
- Must be with practitioners from at least 3 different companies
In the process of setting up and conducting meetings, the student must:
- Directly request the meetings with practitioners
- Send a link to the practitioner letter prior to conducting interviews
- Send thank you emails after the completion of interviews
The student uses the electronic form to write about the takeaways from each meeting with the following requirements:
- 250 words (minimum) about the practitioner’s job (in detail), including a general overview of the organization in which they work
- 150 words (minimum) about the practitioner’s career path (e.g., education, prior jobs, inspiration, etc.)
- 100 words (minimum) about the life advice that the practitioner shared
Interviewed practitioners may be contacted to verify that the award requirements were met. Failure to complete the tasks above may result in disqualification of the interview.
Resources to Aid Your Interviews
Visit the Technology Exploration Award Resources page for helpful interview tips and suggestions regarding how to find technology practitioners and conduct outreach.
Prizes
Each award recipient will receive a Technology Exploration Award certificate. Additionally, applicants will be placed into raffles for monetary prizes based on the number of qualifying interviews they complete. These monetary prizes will be given in the form of Amazon gift cards. Award recipients may receive a maximum of one monetary prize. See the table below for more information. If a recipient is also recognized for another AiC award, special recognition will be given at that designated award ceremony in the spring of 2026. If a Technology Exploration Award recipient is not in attendance at a spring award ceremony, the award certificate and any monetary award received will be sent to the honoree.
AI Usage
AI is not permitted in the submission writing process. All submissions must be written entirely by the applicant.
TEA Leadership Team
Sara Rosenman
Sara’s focus on real-world learning began in fourth grade and led her to contact the CEOs and senior management of dozens of large companies across numerous industries throughout the world, in addition to politicians, musicians, investment leaders, and scientists. She has been invited to speak on the topic of real-world learning in schools, and collaborates with various organizations to further her work in education. Sara has provided real-world learning-focused educational materials to top state education leaders in all fifty states, and as an at-large representative on the Minnesota Youth Council, she works with legislators to affect policies that positively impact the approximately 1.3 million youth in Minnesota. In her free time, Sara enjoys practicing and teaching martial arts, robotics, reading, playing instruments, and learning from practitioners across a wide range of industries.
Julia Rosenman
Julia’s interest in real-world learning has led her to learn from senior leaders and other practitioners in dozens of companies around the world, across numerous industries, as well as political leaders and government groups. Julia has created and taught real-world learning and professional skills assignments and lesson plans that have been required in numerous grades and classrooms over the last five years and has provided related educational materials to over fifty school districts in Minnesota, representing over half of the state’s youth. She has been invited to speak about her extracurricular learning path and her views on the future of education, and she works with various organizations to help students have more impactful learning opportunities. Julia is a 5th district representative on the Minnesota Youth Council, and in her free time she enjoys learning about new industries, practicing and teaching martial arts, leading her school’s robotics team, and playing the violin.
Share Your Experience
Please fill out the following form to share details on your technology practitioner interview.
