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2024 Minnesota Aspirations in Computing Award Ceremony

The annual Aspirations in Computing event highlights the accomplishments of incredible young women that are doing amazing things in technology. For the eighth year running SPS Commerce has sponsored this program and we’ve hosted dozens of Aspirations interns now, including some that have gone on to be college interns and even then team members! This was also the first year for Aspirations in Computing since finding a new home with the MnTech Foundation and holding the event at the Metropolitan Ballroom.

Many members of TeamSPS volunteer and are engaged with Aspirations in Computing, but special recognition for Amy Patton who has put so much into this great program! 👏

Sponsor board listing Champion, Pillar, Platinum, Gold, and Silver partners on an easel inside a ballroom where attendees are seated at round tables. _Thank you to all the sponsors of this great program!_ Group of young women honorees posed on a stage wearing medals while a photographer faces them from the audience _The 2024 Aspirations in Computing honorees._ Group of about 18 SPS Commerce employees and Aspirations in Computing interns posing in front of an NCWIT branded step-and-repeat banner. _TeamSPS members with our four Aspirations interns for 2024._ Group of roughly twenty people posing and smiling in front of an Aspirations in Computing branded backdrop at an indoor venue. _How many people can you get in front of a small photo booth?_

Aspirations is fundraising for eight scholarships for winners that need assistance with their next steps to college. If you can, add your support for these amazing young women!

See Aspirations Awards events from 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, or 2024.

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I attempted my first yoga class with Peloton today and learned that my flexibility is not where it needs to be to do yoga. Need to stick with the stretching classes for now.

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Added the new #TeamSPS Cyberweek 2023 challenge coin to my display case. What a collection!

Silver challenge coins on 3 wood shelves with black felt: 6 SPS logo coins top, 4 Cyber Week 2020-2023 coins middle, 3 Tech Jam 2021-2023 coins bottom.
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Great to see The Little Mermaid Jr. at the Reif Center featuring my nephew Andrew as Grimsby.

Stage performance of The Little Mermaid Jr. with costumed cast on a ship deck set, including a ship wheel prop and projected backdrop.Children in colorful costumes hold hands on stage during a finale of The Little Mermaid Jr. with an underwater backdrop.Cast of Disney's The Little Mermaid Jr. in colorful costumes taking a curtain call on stage before a projected title backdrop.Cast of The Little Mermaid Jr. in full costume posing together in front of a colorful balloon arch

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Guinness at Rapids Brewing Company. 🍻

Pint of Guinness stout with a thick white head on a wooden bar table, with a hand and water glass nearby.
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Nice afternoon walk in Golden Anniversary State Forest with my brother Isaiah and Tiffany.

Four people walking on a leaf-covered trail through a bare winter forest on a sunny afternoon.Five people posing for a selfie in a bare winter forest, smiling at the camera among tall treesWeathered wooden boardwalk trail leading through a bare winter forest with scattered evergreens and fallen leaves

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Look up.

Tall pine trees seen from below looking straight up toward a clear blue sky, trunks radiating outward from center
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Tyler practicing hobo packing.

Young person smiling in a garage holding a large gray blanket bundled over their shoulder like a hobo bindle, wearing a black soccer jersey.
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I’m two weeks into no coffee and this morning I thought I would try a mug of Pu’er Black Tea fully aware that it has caffeine but maybe not too much? I’m surprised by how noticeable the caffeine “surge” felt as I drank it with no caffeine in my system.

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The open foundation of the Fediverse continues to pique my interest and outweigh my disregard for social applications. I created Mastodon profiles and setup syndication for @jamiethingelstad@mastodon.social as well as @weeklything@mastodon.social. I currently publish to BlueSky and Nostr as well.