On a rainy evening, the halls of the New York Public Library
for the Performing Arts buzzed with excitement as CUNY Tech Prep (CTP) students showcased their innovative projects at the annual Demo Night. The event highlighted not just the technical prowess of
CUNY's brightest minds, but also the transformative impact of one of New York City's most promising tech education initiatives.
"A lot of our CUNY students weren't leaving with that tangible
project on their resume all the time, so CTP was helping to fill that gap... These computer science students, they really need something tangible to talk about... [so] CTP helps them get their first
kind of main technical project on their resume," Jackie Bellando, program director of CUNY Tech Prep, explained on the podcast “The City Tutors.”
This focus on practical experience
was clearly evident at Demo Night, where students showcased their innovative solutions.
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MoodScape: Students Alhamza Muswara, Mouhamadou Diallo and Maryam Kurbanova created an AI-Powered
Movie Mood Matcher. Using computer vision technology, the system analyzes a viewer's facial expressions to determine their current mood and preferences. The application then cross-references this data
with TMDB's extensive database to deliver personalized movie recommendations. In a live demonstration at the event, the system proved remarkably accurate, successfully matching viewers with movies
that aligned with their current emotional state and interests.
Cheatdle is an innovative data science and machine learning-driven platform that dives deep into the Wordle phenomenon,
blending predictive modeling using information theory, sentiment analysis, random forest regressors, and cutting-edge retrieval techniques to create an interactive and insightful user experience. It
was created by students Ahmad Basyouni, Alysa Vega, and Miguel Luna.
Subway Surfers uses NYC arrest data and subway station data to create an interactive dashboard on Streamlit that
visualizes crime trends, crime hotspots, and station-specific safety insights to help users, such as commuters, law enforcement, and government officials, better understand and navigate the
city’s urban safety challenges. It was created by Arihant Tiwari, Md Taqi Tahmid Hussain and Zara Amer.
CTP fellows receive one-on-one career coaching, participate in behavioral
interview practice sessions, and attend workshops on networking, project pitching, and job search strategy. They also benefit from mock technical interviews conducted by industry professionals, and
receive assistance crafting technical resumes that highlight their growing expertise.
All of this is made possible through the support of the CUNY Institute for Software Design and Development
and the NYC Tech Talent Pipeline. The program's instructors, teaching assistants, and mentors bring extensive industry experience as software engineers and data scientists, ensuring students learn
from professionals who understand the current demands of the tech industry.
As another successful Demo Night concludes, it's clear that CUNY Tech Prep is more than just an educational program
-- it's a catalyst for change in New York City's tech landscape. By bridging the gap between academic learning and industry needs, CTP continues to build a more inclusive and dynamic tech workforce
for the future.
The success of CTP demonstrates that with structured support, industry-aligned guidance, and meaningful project opportunities, students from diverse backgrounds can excel in
the tech industry. As the program continues to evolve since its 2015 founding, it remains committed to its core mission: empowering CUNY students to launch successful careers in technology and
contributing to the vibrant future of New York City's tech sector.