Brilliant Twin sisters graduate with highest GPA and Tech degrees from Florida International University
The Witherspoons' accomplishments are even more impressive considering their background as first-generation college students raised in a family of six children in Miami. Their passion for technology was ignited by their oldest brother, who introduced them to computers and video games
Binye-lum 
Shonda and Shalisha Witherspoon, identical twins, have not only achieved success but have also broken barriers as engineers and software developers. They graduated from Florida International University (FIU) in 2016, earning bachelor’s degrees in information technology with the highest GPAs in the College of Engineering and Computing (3.95). Their academic journey continued as they obtained master’s degrees in 2018 and are currently employed as software engineers at IBM’s T.J. Watson Research Center in New York, focusing on distributed artificial intelligence and machine learning projects.
The Witherspoons' accomplishments are even more impressive considering their background as first-generation college students raised in a family of six children in Miami. Their passion for technology was ignited by their oldest brother, who introduced them to computers and video games. They overcame the challenges of being minority women in STEM fields and credited FIU for providing them with the necessary education and opportunities.
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Their turning point came when they worked as research assistants at FIU’s High Performance Database Research Center (HPDRC), under the mentorship of Professor Naphtali Rishe. There, they gained invaluable experience in databases and contributed to TerraFly.com, a high-resolution geo-database website. This experience prepared them for the research environment at IBM, where they interned as undergraduates and achieved first place in an IBM hackathon as part of an all-female team.
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Beyond their engineering skills, the Witherspoons are also multilingual, having minored in Japanese language and literature at FIU. They pursued a summer study abroad program at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan, with dreams of working in Japan as software engineers, potentially creating games or mobile apps.
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The twins are not just academically accomplished; they also serve as role models and advocates for young minority women aspiring to enter STEM fields. They are active on campus and in the community, and their numerous awards and recognitions, including the Most Promising Engineer award from the Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) in 2022, reflect their commitment to their fields and their potential to inspire others.
Shonda and Shalisha Witherspoon are trailblazers, setting an example for women in tech. Their achievements and contributions are noteworthy and deserve celebration.
