Compass is a program spanning civic and global engagement, science and technology, arts and culture, and entrepreneurship that empowers students to identify problems and offer solutions, while cultivating unique interests and talents. Participants develop skills in project design, collaboration, budgeting and leadership, applying personal passion to professional context. The program culminates in the Compass Exposition, where students showcase their work.
The Compass program at Western Reserve Academy provides a platform for students to tackle various challenges and explore their unique passions. This year promises to be just as innovative, with a lineup of projects that reflect a diverse array of student interest as well as WRA’s commitment to fostering creativity, curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge. The following projects span scientific research, community engagement and societal impact, transcending the boundaries of traditional education. Let’s take a closer look!
BioBlab | Scientific Research by Students, for Students | Cavin Xue ’24
BioBlab is on a mission to make science accessible to all students. Through a web-based blog, this project reports ongoing research in Cancer Immunology and Synthetic Biology. By presenting engaging scientific articles and podcast episodes, BioBlab aims to demystify complex concepts and share significant breakthroughs, igniting interest in scientific exploration.
Astronomy and Space Science | Shimpi Aparajita ’25
Opportunities for the student body at Reserve to explore and cultivate their interest in astronomy and space science.
By utilizing the observatory, this project seeks to host stargazing events, unlocking the mysteries of the cosmos. Additionally, collaboration with NASA-funded Citizen Science Projects offers students a unique opportunity to analyze real NASA data, potentially igniting a new passion for astronomy and space science.
LaundryTime, to better your Laundry Time | JunNing “David” Hu ’24 and Hao Cheng “Bob” Wang ’24
LaundryTime is all about efficiency. With smart sensors connected to laundry machines, this project eliminates the frustration of searching for available machines. Students can easily check the status of laundry machines in their dorms on a website, complete with estimated wait times, making laundry a hassle-free experience.
First but Not Last: Supporting First-Generation Students in Boarding School | Arlette Correa ’24
Recognizing the unique challenges faced by first-generation students, this project focuses on creating a supportive environment. By building a website that collects sources such as available scholarships, alumni advice and stories of other first-gen students, this project aims to empower, inspire and build a community for those who are charting new territory in their educational journey.
Cut the Scroll - Fight Media Addiction | Fernando Bermudez ’24
In an era of social media addiction, one student is developing an iOS app to help users regain control. The app utilizes targeted blocking to limit time spent on addictive apps, helping individuals develop healthier digital habits and realign their focus on meaningful activities.
Pioneering Sustainability - Making Reserve Green | Celia Chapman ’24
This project champions environmental awareness through information sessions, sustainable practices and community service opportunities. By creating leadership positions within the Class of 2027 focused on sustainability, the project seeks to transform WRA's attitude toward the environment beginning freshman year, paving the way for a more eco-conscious campus.
Smart Bin: Harnessing AI to Promote Widespread Accurate Waste Management | Carter Fleming ’24 and Donald Heddesheimer ’24
Smart Bin will consist of a combination of two bins, one for trash and one for recycling. It will have a platform in the middle with the ability to tilt in either direction. There will be a microcontroller that controls the motor that will tip the platform in one direction or another upon receiving an image of an object. The destination bin, whether for waste or recycling, is determined by a program that analyzes input images. This program, written using various libraries in the Python programming language, is created using image data from commonly recycled items at Western Reserve Academy and is trained using machine learning techniques, including neural networks. This innovative technology not only streamlines waste management but also fosters a deeper understanding of recycling practices within the WRA community.
Python Pals | Riya Hegde ’25
Python Pals addresses the gender gap in computer science by offering coding lessons to middle school girls. Through fun and collaborative learning, this project aims to empower girls to explore the world of programming and boost their confidence in this male-dominated field.
Building a Support System: Uplifting Non-Native English Voices | Celine Omega ’24
This project seeks to support non-native English speakers in the school community. Many non-native English speakers meet the English proficiency to attend U.S. high schools like Western Reserve Academy. However, they still face obstacles, including foreign language anxiety, self-expression and isolation from the larger, native English community. Workshops and a publication will raise awareness about the challenges faced by non-native speakers, fostering a more inclusive environment where both native and non-native voices are heard.
Savoring Tradition and Health: Exploring Chinese Cuisine through Solar Terms | Yihan “Mariana” Ma ’24
The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped lives, leading to healthier lifestyles while exacerbating Asian stereotypes. To promote health and diversity, this project explores Chinese cuisine's nutritional science via solar terms (the 24 distinct periods in the lunar calendar). Collaborating with WRA’s dining hall, the project will offer seasonal dishes with signs explaining their links to solar terms. As a final product, an educational cookbook will be published to highlight solar terms' role in wellbeing, nurturing both body and cultural bonds at WRA.
The Period Project: Changing the Flow of Menstrual Equity at WRA | Anya Mathur ’24
The Period Project creates multiple resources and redefines menstruation for students. A menstrual health curriculum will be designed and integrated into Learn to Live Well classes. Beyond the classroom, students can explore cultural differences through “The Period Theory Podcast.” By empowering students to understand and embrace this subject, a final product of this project will be the publication of a book of period stories written by WRA students from their own experience, preserving the traditional method of learning about periods – storytelling.
“Ate” – An Educational Resource for Migrant Workers in Hong Kong | Christian Tan ’24
Inspired by the term "Ate," meaning elder sister or caretaker, this project extends a helping hand to migrant workers in Hong Kong. Providing essential educational resources and informative webinars, "Ate" supports these individuals in navigating financial literacy, money management and safe borrowing practices through an inclusive all-in-one website. Similar to Khan Academy, “Ate” will feature exclusive informative webinars that will feature experts across different fields.
In addition to the work students are devoting to their research projects and presentations, last Friday, the Compass students ventured to the Simplay3 Company in Streetsboro, Ohio. Invited by Marshall Murdough ’88, students met with the design and production teams to learn about the process of creating a product from an initial idea through shipping the final product to the customer.
Dr. Ralf Borrmann, Modern & Classical Languages Department Chair and Compass Coordinator, and Julianne Lopez, Modern & Classical Language Faculty Member and Compass Coordinator, shared, “The students were most excited to experience the collaborative and iterative process firsthand and had many take-aways. The level of professionalism and passion exhibited by each member of the Simplay3 team left a lasting impression on them.”
Mr. Murdough has hosted Compass students in the past. He and his team are consistently generous with their time, and Western Reserve Academy is fortunate to have such committed alumni friends.
