Amidst a wealth of diverse academic offerings, the Yeshiva University High School for Girls’ STEM program stands out: Year after year, it produces students who are inquisitive and ready to apply the engineering and technical mastery they’ve learned in the classroom in the greater world.
Last week, the students of Central’s Engineering I and II courses applied these skills in competition at Hackathon 2024. Sponsored by the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education (CIJE), the Hackathon annually challenges young engineers to think big about global issues by challenging students to develop a device or app that addresses a specific problem – all within a five-hour timeframe.
This year’s Hackathon theme, “The Internet of Things in Relation to Environmental Science,” incorporated skills that students in Engineering I and II have been honing since the beginning of the year, which include developing code in order to control different objects. “It’s a great opportunity for the students to expand on the skills they’ve been learning in Engineering and apply them in a practical way,” said Central Engineering faculty member Mr. Michael Spindel.
“And this year’s group has a lot of potential, and a lot of room for positive growth.” Freshmen engineers included Camryn Brunner, Maya Goykadosh, Annabelle Klein, Maayan Kotkin, Aden Muskat, Hudis Schnur, Bailey Rosenstock, and Sarah Wagman. Participating sophomore engineers were Hannah Austin, Lana Bahn, Kayla Etra, and Aliyah Kahn.
This year’s Hackathon event was held at Industry City in Brooklyn. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my Engineering class with Mr. Spindel these past two years,” said sophomore Hannah Austin. “I love that I’m a part of a group that is totally independent. This experience has contributed to the anticipation of Hackathon, in which I am thrilled to participate.”
Freshman Annabelle Klein agreed that Engineering has proven to be a formative experience. “I have had a great time in Engineering this year,” she said. “Mr. Spindel’s class is really interesting. I love the way that, with a few wires and some code, we can do an infinite number of things. I’m really excited for the Hackathon, because it’s an opportunity to have fun with my friends while using all the skills I’ve learned so far – and to learn even more.”
A highlight from this year’s event: A Central team composed of Maya Goykadosh, Maayan Kotkin, and Aden Muskat placed third overall with their Soil Analysis Device project. “Coming up with an idea and seeing it through to the finish line in five hours is a challenge, but the students rose to the occasion,” Mr. Spindel said. “They had fun and gained valuable experience.”
Upcoming events for Central Engineering students include the Science Olympiad, the Science Robotics Competition, and CIJE Innovation Day in May.
