

Solon High School student Rebecca Jacob’s love of technology not only earned her a prize in a statewide technology competition but also gave her the chance to tour the Ohio Statehouse with her very own State Senator Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland).
“The best part of winning the Cleveland competition was that I had a chance to present the app my team created at the Ohio Statehouse, and the second most exciting thing was that State Sen. Jerry Cirino gave me a personal tour of the state house and introduced me to other legislators,” said Rebecca, 16, a junior.
It all started when Rebecca’s mom, Minu John, signed her up for a technology competition. The TECH CORPS Hackathon is a statewide competition that introduces students to coding. Participants use development software to try to tackle global challenges with technology.
Rebecca and a team of students from other Northeast Ohio schools created an app that would educate and incentivize users to recycle.
She said the app was based on one of the United Nations 17 Sustainability Goals.
“We designed a mobile app that not only educated users about what kinds of items were recyclable, but it also allowed them to see on a map how their personal recycling activities could impact the environment.”
She said she had read about how 80 percent of things found in U.S. landfills might have been recyclable and that more than 146 million tons of trash are taken to U.S. landfills yearly.The app created by Rebecca’s team was selected as the winner of the TECH CORPS Hackathon’s Cleveland-area competition.
As a result of her team’s win, Rebecca was invited to the TECH CORPS Hackathon Statehouse Recognition Event, which took place on Dec. 11 in the Ohio Statehouse Atrium. This event honored the achievements of the nearly 300 high school students participating in the 2024 statewide TECH CORPS Hackathon, from competitions held in Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and Elyria.
According to the competition organizers, “While competing in teams, these young innovators tackled global challenges with local solutions, creating mobile apps using SwiftUI development software. For many participants, this hackathon was their first experience with coding, offering them a hands-on introduction to career-connected, project-based learning. Throughout the event, students developed critical collaboration and presentation skills, preparing them for future success in both the classroom and the workforce.”
“I was put on a team with people I had never met before from other high schools, who, after working together, have become my very good friends,” said Rebecca.
She said that she not only uses her understanding of technology at competitions but she also uses it to help introduce younger students to the joy of technology.
“I am the chapter director of Steel City Code, and through this organization, I teach fifth to ninth graders how to code and help develop an interest in coding in the younger students, ”shared Rebecca.
Although she has already completed A.P. Computer Science at Solon High School, she is interested in furthering her studies in computers and technology in college.
“Yes, I think I would like to continue studying the intersection of technology and the environment,” said Rebecca.
And hopefully, in the process, this tech guru can continue in her goal to help others learn how to save their environment.
As a result of her team’s win, Rebecca was invited to the TECH CORPS Hackathon Statehouse Recognition Event, which took place on Dec. 11 in the Ohio Statehouse Atrium. This event honored the achievements of the nearly 300 high school students participating in the 2024 statewide TECH CORPS Hackathon, from competitions held in Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and Elyria.