My name is Shaketia L. McCoy. I am from Greenwood, Mississippi. My family always told me anything was possible if you put your mind to it. That is why I strive hard to succeed because success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it. These words provided me the encouragement that I needed to pursue a career in the area of computer science.
After I was offered a full academic scholarship and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Odyssey scholarship, I chose Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) as the path to my success. Also, I chose MVSU because their department of mathematics, computer, and information science is like one big family. I am now pursing two undergraduate degrees in computer science and mathematics.
The past summer I conduct undergraduate research experience at Elizabeth City State University located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. During the Undergraduate Research Experience in Ocean, Marine and Polar Science (URE OMPS) 2009 program, I was apart of the Greenland Data Visualization team. The Greenland Data Visualization team took the Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets (CReSIS) data and created a 4-D visualization consisting of depth, time, latitude, and longitude. This visualization was created utilizing HTML, JavaScript, and PHP. Microsoft Excel was used to filter the raw data downloaded from the CReSIS site. The Greenland Data Visualization Team also statistically analyzed the Greenland ice sheet thickness data for calculated, missing, and actual depth readings. The goal of or project was to present the CReSIS data via the web in a visual format to elementary, undergraduate, and graduate students for research and education.This experience not only help me in many different ways with my chosen discipline but it would helped me get some experience.
During my tenure at MVSU, I would like to build and expand my knowledge with research experiences and various opportunities. After I receive my undergraduate degrees, I plan to continue my education in computer science by receiving my master’s. My ultimate goal is to obtain a doctoral degree in computer science.
