Jessica S.

Jessica is a high school junior at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She is passionate about using technology to make a real difference in digital awareness and health-related advancements. She created Kids Learn Tech during her sophomore year, a program that teaches kids about internet safety and the basics of coding in JavaScript and Python, which has been implemented in multiple libraries across South Florida and is currently working to expand across the entire state. Jessica founded Tech 4 Now, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization aimed at providing free technology education and resources to children and seniors in her community who have limited access to tech. Through Tech 4 Now, she offers lessons on safe internet usage and coding classes via Kids Learn Tech, as well a seniors edition of this program called Seniors Learn Tech. This program mirrors the Kids Learn Tech model, encouraging seniors to also participate in lessons to learn coding skills and internet safety, fostering intergenerational learning and connection. Tech 4 Now is also working on implementing volunteer opportunities for high school students with computer science backgrounds to serve as instructors for the Kids Learn Tech and Seniors Learn Tech programs. The mission is to bridge the generational digital divide, equipping both children and seniors with essential tech skills while fostering connections between them in the current digital world. She is particularly proud of winning the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for Flip the Switch, a mental wellness app that incorporates advanced AI to improve emotional well-being through personalized features. Additionally, she is honored to have been named a Semifinalist in the 2024 Technovation Girls Challenge (top 10% of teams worldwide) for her platform, AuthentiCheck AI, which empowers teens to distinguish between authentic and AI-generated content in text, images, and voices. She was selected to be a Technovation Student Ambassador, where she mentors other participants and inspire more girls to explore technology and its impactful real-world applications through the Technovation Girls Challenge. She has also received her school's Computer Science Departmental Award for her outstanding achievements in the field as well as the 2024 CyberStart America Bronze Award. Last summer, Jessica participated in the Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS) program, specifically in the Innovations in Science & Technology (IST) session, where she engaged in interactive lectures and seminars on science and technology, as well as a final capstone project, NeuroBridge: An Adaptive AI Application to Improve Autism Communication. She was also chosen to present AuthentiCheck AI at the YYGS Speaker Series. In school, Jessica is the co-founder and co-president of Girls Who Code, where she encourages students to explore their interests in computer science and technology through activities that cover fields such as data and AI, cybersecurity, web development, art and animation, and more. Additionally, she serves as co-chair of the Science Journal Club Committee of the Science National Honor Society, fostering scientific discussion and exploration among her peers. Jessica is the secretary of the Computer Science Club, Fine Arts Editor of the yearbook, and is a member of the Student Advisory Committee, Math & Theories Club, Women in STEM Club, Model UN, and Latinx Student Association / Spanish Club. Additionally, she is an accomplished singer, having founded her school's a cappella program, Pine Crest Voices, and being a vocalist in the Select Vocal and Honors Jazz Ensembles. She has been awarded several superior ratings, the highest possible, at the Florida Vocal Association District and State Solo and Ensemble competitions in the category of Solo Musical Theater. Outside of school, Jessica is actively engaged in several pursuits. She is involved in research in a Data Science and Computational Biology Lab at the University of Miami, is a dedicated member of the Stanford Neuroscience Journal Club, and serves as a GoodforMEdia Youth Advisor, an Alumni Ambassador for Yale Young Global Scholars, an UPchieve tutor, and a Teen Ambassador for the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Jessica plans to pursue a degree in computer science or a related computational field, with a concentration in artificial intelligence and its applications in biology, neuroscience, and mental health.