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My name is Stephen, and I'm from a small town called Stuarts Draft in the Shenandoah Valley. I first got into programming in high school when one of my favorite teachers introduced a new course on game development. While the class wasn't very technical, it exposed me to the foundations of programming — and I was hooked.
Education
I graduated from James Madison University in May 2024 with a degree in Computer Science, along with minors in Mathematics and History. I was especially drawn to courses in computer graphics and machine learning — subjects that combined technical depth with creativity.
My mathematics minor was essential to my understanding of computer science. Courses like Calculus III, Probability and Statistics, and Linear Algebra gave me the foundation I needed for tackling challenging concepts in computer science. My interest in History comes from a desire to better understand the world; I believe that learning about culture, conflict, and philosophy helps us approach technology with a more thoughtful, human-centered perspective.
During my time at JMU, I completed projects in a variety of languages including Java, C/C++, and Python. Some of my favorite projects included Counter Cart, a Minecraft-themed racing game built in WebGL and TypeScript, and KiloBites, a Java-based recipe management tool developed using agile principles.
Piedmont Student Launch Team
Before transferring to JMU, I studied at Piedmont Virginia Community College, where I joined the Piedmont Student Launch Team—a NASA-sponsored program challenging students to design, build, and launch a research-based high-powered rocket.
From 2019 to 2021, I focused on designing experimental payloads. One year, I developed a deployable drone system capable of autonomous rendezvous at a predefined location. Another year, I worked on a vision-based landing detection system that estimated touchdown coordinates without relying on GPS—using onboard sensors and environmental pattern recognition.
I designed mechanical components in Fusion 360, which was my first exposure to 3D modeling and CAD software. This experience also introduced me to working with physical materials— including woodworking, fiberglass layups, and soldering electronics—to build and integrate custom systems into the rocket.
Throughout each year-long project cycle, our team submitted formal technical proposals, collaborated across disciplines, and met engineering review milestones.
CAPWIC Conference
I had the opportunity to attend the Capital Region Celebration of Women in Computing (CAPWIC), a regional conference that promotes diversity and inclusion in technology.
As part of the event, my team and I presented an app we developed to showcase how algorithmic thinking can solve practical, real-world problems. Our project focused on helping visitors to Harrisonburg build travel itineraries and generate optimized routes based on their selected destinations.
The app tackled the classic Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP), and allowed users to experiment with different route-planning algorithms— giving them insight into how various approaches performed on real, dynamic data.
We were thrilled to win first place in the conference's flash talk competition, earning recognition for both our technical execution and presentation.
Personal Interests
I have a strong passion for computer graphics and machine learning, but outside of development, I'm just as drawn to music and the outdoors. I play guitar and love going to concerts whenever I get the chance.
One of my favorite experiences is attending music festivals with friends—camping and enjoying live performances, and being immersed in nature. I also frequently hike the trails near my home, which helps me recharge and stay inspired.
These experiences outside of technology keep me grounded and often provide unexpected inspiration for my work. Whether it's the mathematical patterns in music or the problem-solving required for outdoor adventures, I find that diverse interests make me a better developer.
Let's Connect
I'm always interested in discussing technology, collaborating on projects, or just having a good conversation about development and innovation.