Purdue WHPC scholarship sends student to GHC 25 conference
Purdue’s Women in High-Performance Computing (WHPC) group offers scholarships to support students who wish to travel to major computing conferences. Recently, the group sponsored a graduate student to attend the Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) 2025, held in Chicago, Illinois.
Shalini Kumari 
is a Master’s student at Purdue, majoring in Engineering Management. Last November, thanks to assistance from a WHPC scholarship, Kumari attended GHC 25. GHC, eponymously named after pioneering computer scientist Grace Hopper, is the world’s largest gathering of women in tech, bringing together thousands of women from across the globe to learn, network, and celebrate their achievements. We sat down with Kumari afterwards to discuss the conference and learn about her experiences whilst there:
Can you describe your overall experience at the conference?
GHC felt like stepping into a space buzzing with possibility. Everywhere I turned, there were women building, leading, and lifting each other up. It was inspiring in a way that stayed with me long after the sessions ended.
What was your biggest takeaway from the conference?
When women come together, something shifts, confidence grows, barriers feel lighter, and the future feels a little more in reach. Being surrounded by thousands of talented women reminded me that leadership in tech isn’t just something to aspire to; it’s something women are actively shaping right now. I met so many inspiring people and attended sessions like Aditi Patange’s “Code to Strategy: Transitioning from SWE to PM,” which made me realize that there are others with backgrounds like mine carving similar paths. It was grounding and motivating in the best way.
How did support from Purdue WHPC make this experience possible for you, and how do you feel about receiving the support?
The support from Purdue WHPC genuinely changed what this experience looked like for me. It made attending GHC possible and allowed me to focus on learning, connecting, and exploring new career paths with an open mind. I’m deeply grateful; it felt like having a team behind me, cheering me on. Would you recommend the WHPC scholarship program to other Purdue students and why? Absolutely! The WHPC scholarship doesn’t just help you attend a conference, it gives you access to a community that pushes you to grow, learn, and imagine bigger possibilities for yourself. It’s an opportunity I hope more Purdue students take advantage of.
Did you have any prior involvement with Research Computing or WHPC?
This was my first time engaging with WHPC. It was a wonderful introduction, and I’m excited to stay connected moving forward!
Purdue Women in High-Performance Computing Program
Purdue Women in HPC is part of a broader engagement initiative by the Rosen Center for Advanced Computing (RCAC) and is led by women staffers affiliated with RCAC. WHPC is a dedicated community encompassing undergraduate, graduate, staff, and faculty men and women who are interested in exposing women to high-performance computing and encouraging their pursuit of research and careers in HPC and other technology fields.
Within the WHPC initiative, RCAC provides partial travel assistance to undergraduate and graduate students, empowering their participation in various national conferences that align with WHPC’s objectives. The WHPC travel scholarship sends students to numerous conferences each year, most recently including the Grace Hopper Celebration, Society of Women Engineers, and Supercomputing.
For full eligibility requirements, and to apply for this scholarship, please visit the WHPC Scholarship page.
In addition to the scholarship program, Purdue WHPC organizes a range of activities, including regular meetings to discuss technical HPC-related issues of interest, opportunities to network with the WHPC community, a mentorship program, workshops, and exposure to external resources and opportunities.
If you would like to attend and/or are interested in future participation, please contact us at whpc@purdue.edu. You may also subscribe to our WHPC List Serve.