Bornem pupil is European Digital Girl of the year

Manon Van Hoorebeke, a student in the Bornem district of Antwerp, has been selected as European Digital Girl of the Year in Rome for her efforts in encouraging girls’ interest in technology. Manon won in the category of girls aged 11 and up. “I am happy to receive the award and be a role model for other girls,” she told DataNews.

As part of the competition, 11-year-old Manon took part in a CoderDojo programming activity with Neelie Kroes, the former European Commissioner for the digital agenda. She also visited the former Flemish education minister Pascal Smet and took part in a contest with Lego Mindstorms. Manon is active on Twitter, and she blogs in English. She told DataNews that she was considering studying engineering in the future.

The title is part of the European Ada Awards, an initiative of the Brussels-based Digital Leadership Institute with the Council of European Professional Informatics Societies, DigitalEurope, the European Centre for Women in Technology and European SchoolNet.

It’s the second time the Ada Award has been given, and a Belgian student also won last year: Lune Van Ewijk from Sint-Katelijne-Waver won in the category for girls aged up to 10.