Cecilia R. Aragon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cecilia R. Aragon
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | California Institute of Technology (BS) University of California, Berkeley (MS, PhD) |
| Known for | Co-invention of treap data structure |
| Awards | Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Computer science |
| Institutions | University of Washington Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory NASA Ames Research Center |
| Thesis | Improving aviation safety with information visualization: Airflow hazard display for helicopter pilots (2004) |
| Doctoral advisor | Marti Hearst |
Cecilia Rodriguez Aragon is an amazing American computer scientist, professor, and author. She is also a champion aerobatic pilot! She is famous for helping to create something called a treap. This is a special way to organize information in computers. She also works with huge amounts of data, making it easier to understand. Because of her important work, she received a very special award from the President of the United States.
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Education and Learning
Cecilia Aragon studied a lot! She earned her first degree in mathematics from the California Institute of Technology in 1982. Later, she got her master's degree and then her Ph.D. in computer science from the University of California, Berkeley. She finished her Ph.D. in 2004.
Her Career Journey
Today, Cecilia Aragon is a professor at the University of Washington in Seattle. She teaches about how people and computers work together. Her research helps scientists understand very large amounts of data. She also studies how people are creative together.
Before joining the University of Washington, she worked at some cool places. She was a computer scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory for six years. She also worked at NASA Ames Research Center for nine years. Even before that, she was a professional airshow pilot and part of the United States Aerobatic Team!
Presidential Award for Scientists
On July 9, 2009, Cecilia Aragon received a huge honor. It was the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. This is the highest award the U.S. government gives to new scientists and engineers.
She earned this award for her important work. She helped create new ways to manage and understand scientific data. This included special computer programs and tools.
Aerobatic Flying Career
Cecilia Aragon is an incredible pilot. She first joined the United States Aerobatic Team in 1991. This team represents the U.S. in flying competitions. She holds a record for how quickly she went from her first solo flight to joining the team. It took her less than six years! She was also the first Latina woman to join the U.S. Aerobatic Team.
She was a team member from 1991 to 1994. She won a bronze medal at the U.S. National Aerobatic Championships in 1993. She also won a bronze medal at the World Aerobatic Championships in 1994. She has won over 70 trophies in flying competitions. In 1990, she was the California State Unlimited Aerobatic Champion. Since 1990, she has also performed in professional airshows.
Aragon has been a flight instructor since 1987. In 1989, she started one of the first flight schools in Northern California. This school taught aerobatic flying. She also helped create special training for pilots. This training teaches pilots how to recover from tricky situations in the air. Between 1987 and 2008, she taught many hours of flight lessons.
Her Autobiography
In September 2020, Cecilia Aragon's book, Flying Free, was published. It is a memoir, which means it tells the story of her life. Her book was listed as a top pick by Ms. Magazine. It also won the 2021 PNWA Nancy Pearl award.
