Ethan Cha

(551) 223-9739
ethan.j.cha@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/ethan-cha-67639730b

📚 Education

Bergen County Academies, Hackensack, NJ

High School Diploma
Sep. 2022 - Present
GPA: 3.83 SAT: 1550, PSAT: 1460
College Credits: Intro to Programming (BCC:INF 103), US History Since 1877 (FDU:HIST 1131) - 6 credits
AP Scores: AP Computer Science A (5), AP Physics 1 (5), AP Calc BC (5), AP Microeconomics (5), AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism (4), AP Physics C: Mechanics (5)

💻 Skills

Programming Languages

Java Python

Technologies & Tools

Arduino Machine Learning AWS Competitive Programming Data Visualization Tools

🚀 Experience & Leadership

Codificar Inc. - President & Founder

2023 - Present
Established and currently lead a 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering free coding instruction in Java, Python, and competitive programming. Developed a multi-tier curriculum and managed a team of peer tutors; instructed over 30+ students across middle and high school levels. Mentored competitive programming team that placed 1st in NJ at the ACSL All-Star Senior Division.

Data Science Club - President

2023 - Present
Created a schoolwide initiative introducing students to real-world data science applications through workshops and hands-on challenges. Partnered with university researchers and national data science nonprofits to provide mentorship and industry exposure. Led peer-teaching seminars on Pandas, NumPy, and data visualization; organized internal competitions and case study analyses.

Technology Intern at Chibitek

Jul. 2024 - Present
Helped monitor and maintain clients' systems to ensure consistent performance and minimal downtime. Collaborated on diagnosing and resolving a range of IT issues, from network connectivity challenges to software errors. Assisted in managing cloud services, including data migrations and secure storage solutions. Learned to use industry-standard remote monitoring and management (RMM) tools to oversee IT environments. Contributed to documentation efforts, creating guides and process manuals for both internal use and client reference. Participated in team discussions to develop new strategies for optimizing IT operations.

Published Research Paper in Journal of International Research

2024
Published a research paper on Assessing Local Sources for PM2.5 in the NY Metro area using Conditional Probability Function Analysis. https://www.journalresearchhs.org/_files/ugd/ebf144_b1857e9968904942baabed016e618e89.pdf

Published Article in JSR Journal

2023
Researched about use of KZ Filter technique to evaluate PM2.5 Air Quality long term trends in NJ. Submitted the journal to publish the article with the topic Use of Kolmogorov-Zurbenko Filter Technique to Evaluate PM 2.5 Air Quality Long-Term Trends in New Jersey. https://www.jsr.org/hs/index.php/path/article/view/4393

Counterspell Bergen - Lead Organizer

Nov. 2024
Founded and led a regional high school game jam with 50+ attendees as part of Hack Club's global hackathon initiative. Designed and launched the official event website, later spotlighted by Columbia Engineering Outreach for innovation in STEM youth engagement. Secured over $1,000 in sponsorships from local businesses and educational organizations to fund venue, prizes, and technical resources.

Columbia Science Honors Program - Scholar

2022 - Present
Selected through a highly competitive application process (acceptance rate <10%) to participate in Columbia University's weekend STEM enrichment program. Completed advanced coursework in theoretical computer science, neuroscience, and applied mathematics under Columbia faculty.

Cooper Union STEM - Linear Algebra Scholar

Summer 2024
Studied matrix theory, linear transformations, and eigenvector applications as part of an engineering-focused linear algebra cohort. Applied mathematical modeling to solve real-world engineering problems in collaborative team settings.

🔬 Projects & Research

Generating Realistic Cities with Perlin Noise

Wolfram Summer Research Program
Conducted research on procedural generation using Perlin noise to model realistic city layouts, applying computational methods to urban design and simulation.
Wolfram Mathematica Procedural Generation Simulation

Developing an Automated Spectrophotometer Using Arduino Microcontroller

BCA Expo
Developed spectrophotometer using RGB LEDs, LDR sensors, 3D-printed cartridge, and Arduino Mega; implemented automated wavelength selection and calibration software.
Arduino Electronics 3D Printing Sensors

Volunteer Service

700+ Hours
LIBERTY SCIENCE CENTER: Presented hands-on demonstrations and guided guests through STEM exhibits as part of the museum's volunteer team. MUSEUM OF MATH (MOMATH): Led interactive math activities and supported educational programming for families and youth visitors. YOUTH COUNCIL FORT LEE (YCFL): Organized large-scale community events, including the Fort Lee Color Run, and participated in civic outreach initiatives. CHODAE CHURCH: Drummer for the youth praise team, contributing to weekly worship services and church events.

Capture The Flag (CTF) Club - Leader

Spearheaded a student cybersecurity team to compete in CTF tournaments, solving challenges involving network intrusion, cryptography, and binary exploitation. Coached peers in ethical hacking tools and techniques; placed top 3 in school-wide competitions.
Cybersecurity Cryptography Network Security

Tennis - Junior Varsity Captain

Served as captain for the JV team, coordinating practices, leading strategy discussions, and mentoring new players. Competed in regional league matches and trained alongside varsity athletes.

Rock Climbing - Competitive Youth Team Member

Competed in bouldering and sport climbing events at local and regional levels as part of a certified youth climbing team. Trained 3x weekly to improve strength, endurance, and technique under professional coaching.

Liquiboard: Research and Development of Dynamic Error-Correcting Keyboard App

Developed a custom Android keyboard that utilizes machine learning to analyze and adapt to user's unique typing pattern. The keyboard dynamically adjusts the shape and sensitivity of key borders based on frequently tapped areas, reducing typing errors and improving overall accuracy and user experience.
Android Machine Learning Mobile Development

Congressional App Challenge

Designed and developed a mobile app for intermittent fasting, featuring customizable scheduling tools, reminders, and evidence-based nutrition tips. Built an AI-driven news summarization app that converts headlines from major outlets into accessible content for children, promoting early civic awareness.
Mobile Apps AI UI/UX Design

Columbia Competitive Programming Camp - Participant

Selected for a two-week intensive training program hosted by Columbia University, focused on advanced algorithms, graph theory, and dynamic programming. Collaborated with college students on timed problem sets and algorithmic challenges under real competition conditions.
Algorithms Competitive Programming C++

🏆 Awards & Honors

  • AP Scholar with Distinction
    2025
  • STEM Light House Challenge
    (2nd place)
    2023
  • National Honor Society (NHS) Member
    2024 - 2026
  • Congressional Award
    (Gold certificate)
    2024
  • Congressional Certificate of Appreciation
    (YCFL)
    2023 - 2025
  • President's Volunteer Service Award
    2023
  • American Computer Science League (ACSL) All Star Senior
    (Gold Medal)
    2023
  • American Computer Science League (ACSL) All Star Intermediate
    (Gold Medal)
    2022
  • Bergen County Academies Science Olympiad
    (2nd place)
    2022
  • USA Computing Olympiad (USACO)
    (Platinum level)
    2022 - 2023
  • Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Voice of Democracy County winner
    2022 - 2023
  • Bergen Science Fair
    (3rd place & Broadcom Coding with Commitment Award)
    2022
  • Scholastic Art & Writing Award
    (Silver Key)

📜 Certifications

  • Java SE 8 Programmer I
    Oracle certification for Java SE 8 - 1Z0-808
    2024
  • The Coding School - Artificial Intelligence
    2023 - 2024
  • The Coding School - Machine Learning
    2024
  • PCEP Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer
    2023
  • AWS Practitioner
    2022
  • Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera (DELE)
    A1 & A2
    2021
  • Microsoft Office Certification (MOS)
    Excel, Powerpoint, Word
    2020
  • Taekwondo Black Belt
    2nd dan
    2020