Coding A New Future: the Creation of Computer Science Honor Society

A glimpse at one of the school’s newest honor societies: Computer Science Honor Society.

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media by Grace Uhrain

Sameer Arora ‘23 works on a computer in Chris Cassic’s classroom during access Sept. 22. Cassic teaches AP Computer Science Principles, AP Computer Science A, and engineering, which can qualify students for Computer Science Honor Society. “Students will be able to apply if they [are taking] a computer science class right now,” Arora said. “We’ll be advertising our honor society within the AP computer science classes.”

by Grace Uhrain, Editor in Chief

Booleans, algorithms and conditionals. Commands are typed into a computer, then the computer executes the written code.

Imagine a forum to share and collaborate on a common interest in computer science. The newly formed Computer Science Honor Society (CSHS) hopes to create a space for students to learn more about computer science and pursue unique opportunities relating to careers in computer science. The honor society is chartered by the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA), a national organization that provides guidance and program management for local chapters.

“There’s a lot of subjects here. Computer sciences are growing. I think there’s a large community here that doesn’t really have a society, [but there is a] history honor society [and] science honor society. So I thought it was a good opportunity to fill the gap,” President Sujay Potlapelly ‘23 said.

Computer Science Honor Society will open applications for the first time at school Oct. 24. Students who are currently taking any computer science class are eligible to apply.

The inspiration for the honor society was a hope to provide more in-depth experience in programming.

“We have three [computer science] classes, but those mostly touch within the AP area, and they don’t go that in-depth to actual programming. And so we actually wanted to start an honor society [for] a lot of people to get more in-depth with programming,” Co-Founder Johann Schmidt ‘24 said.

The Computer Science Honor Society officers want to give students who excel in computer science a chance to pursue further opportunities both in the community and in the field of computer science such as hackathons, which are conventions of computer programmers all working together on a certain software project, according to Rasmussen University.

“We think it’s important for people who excel in computer science to participate in an honor society so they can prove to other people what they know,” Schmidt said. “And also so they can get better working with other students who are also good at computer science. By competing with other people [in events] like hackathons, it’s a really good chance to improve your skills and build out a portfolio of work.” 

The honor society also hopes to serve the community through knowledge of technology. 

“For the first year, we hope to perhaps work in the library to help some kids out with technology, and help some seniors out as in senior centers or nursing homes. We’d love to help them out with their technical problems,” Vice President Sameer Arora ‘23 said. “And we were also thinking of introducing some other service projects to the school. But generally, our focus is going to be centered around providing computer science service projects.” 

In addition, the officers have a goal to bring together more computer science students in Colorado.

“We’re planning on doing a state committee or state meeting. Cherry Creek [High School] just made their first computer science honor society, so we’re hoping to collaborate with them and do a state convention,” Potlapelly said.

The Computer Science Honor Society meets quarterly in math teacher Grace Nishida’s room, 9300. For more information, check out the honor societies page on the school website.