Exploring Computer Science With Alums From the 1970s 

Hosted by the class of 1973

Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, at noon ET 

Location: Online via Zoom

The class of 1973 invites alums from the classes of 1970 to 1979 to join us in an exciting digital dialogue on Dec. 11 at noon ET presented by Cynthia Akanaga ’25, a Mount Holyoke College student and major-league hacker. Akanaga will share her journey into tech, which has been inspired by her time at Mount Holyoke, and explain the positive impact of hackathons organized by Major League Hacking — a global platform for student innovation. The session will also cover her project that was honored with the Best Use of E-Commerce award. She created the project with a team of fellow Mount Holyoke students. Attendees will gain insight into the opportunities available to today’s computer science students and the ways platforms such as Major League Hacking empower young innovators across the globe.

Originally interested in premed or prelaw, Akanaga became inspired during a visit to the College, when she met a junior who was majoring in computer science. Akanaga completely changed course and became a computer science major herself. Her academic story is fascinating — she started out with minor coding skills and then became a hackathon organizer and award winner. If you aren’t sure what coding is, don’t understand what software engineers do or get negative vibes when you see the words “hacking” and “hackathon,” please join us on Dec. 11. We know this will be an engaging virtual program with the bonus of a chance to meet one of the incredibly talented, highly intelligent students who make us so proud of Mount Holyoke.

We will record this event and make the recording available following the event.

Presenter: 

dCynthia Akanaga ’25, a dedicated computer science student at Mount Holyoke College, was recognized as one of the Major League Hacking Top 50 for 2023. Her journey into tech began at Mount Holyoke, where she developed a passion for innovation and problem-solving and eventually participated in numerous hackathons that solidified her interest in the field. Through Major League Hacking, a global student hackathon league, she has contributed to projects designed to empower and connect students worldwide. In addition to the league’s recognition, Akanaga received the Best Use of E-Commerce award with a team of her Mount Holyoke peers for their collaborative work in a recent hackathon. In addition to her technical pursuits, she actively engages in mentoring, bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world applications for her peers. Her achievements highlight her commitment to growth and community impact as well as her focus on making tech accessible to all.

Accessibility information

This event will include an oral presentation on the topic of Major League Hacking and computer science. To inquire about the accessibility of this event or to request any accommodations, please email programs_team-g@mtholyoke.edu — or call Kate Sawicki at 413-538-2734. Please make accommodation requests 10 business days before the event or sooner to allow for implementation time. However, in all situations, we will make a good-faith effort to provide accommodations up until the time of the event.

As the host, Mount Holyoke College reserves the right to record this session, and the event sponsors will give prior notification to participants of any intention to do so. The recording feature for others is disabled so that no one else will be able to record this session through Zoom. Recording by any other means is not permitted at any time without prior written permission from the event sponsor or unless it is an approved accommodation.