Ethan Ojede '24 Recruiting Profile

It is my pleasure to submit this personal statement for consideration of my candidacy to play basketball in a university with a rigorous undergraduate program in computer science and/or computer engineering. I am currently a senior at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA) High School in Austin, Texas. It has been an honor to attend LASA, which is ranked the fourth best high school program in Texas and among the best in the nation. I am also a member of the National Honor Society of High School Scholars.

Permit me to briefly elaborate on my background, challenges which I overcame as a child. I was born in Manhattan, Kansas to two hardworking immigrant parents. I had a speech delay, and I did not speak until I was three years old. I received speech therapy during my preschool and elementary education, and I was removed from the program early in middle school when it became clear that I was performing on top of my class in almost all subject areas. Since I overcame my speech problem, I have harnessed my energy, developed diverse experiences, and honed my skills not only in academics but also becoming an impactful leader in my community.

There are several reasons why I have a great passion for computer science/engineering, and I am looking for a challenging undergraduate program which can propel me to success in this field. To save space, I will elaborate on the two most important ones:

First, I have already taken several challenging AP and other advanced level STEM courses in high school which I believe will lay a strong foundation for me to succeed in college. When I first began my high school journey as a freshman, I took an AP course in computer science, based on JAVA computing language, which is a course that is not recommended for freshmen. At the end of my freshmen school year, not only did I perform on top of my class, but I also excelled in the AP exam. By the end of my junior year, I had completed several advanced level computer science courses in addition to numerous AP classes in physics, calculus, statistics, world history, US history, English, etc.

Second, as an African American, I believe that, given my unique skill sets in computer science, by furthering my training in a great university with rigorous degree programs, I can inspire a new generation of students, especially those in underrepresented communities of color to be successful as well.

Besides my academic success at LASA, what makes me even more unique and special compared to my peers is my ability to exert positive change in other people’s lives in the United States and abroad. To save space, I will discuss my latest impactful leadership initiatives in the community.

I am currently the Founder and CEO of a new non-profit organization called “Empower Future American Coders.” The main objective of this non-profit is to provide intensive summer and after-school computer literacy programs to low-income inner-city students, targeting primarily middle school and high school freshmen. Developing this proposal took me nearly two years. Several companies offered me summer internships. However, I decided that I would rather put more effort into developing an initiative that provides a significant impact on children in poor communities. I realized that I needed to create a powerful initiative in an area which I am good at, and that is computer science, and to make students in these poor communities gain equal access to computer literacy programs just like students in relatively more affluent schools. My proposed initiative has attracted the attention of the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner at the Texas Education Agency, where I was invited to present. I was also invited to present my proposal before the central Texas legislators in the Texas House of Representatives.

On the athletic front, I am a talented two-way basketball player, and my defensive agility is almost second to none. I am currently on the LASA Varsity team. Last year, I won the defensive player of the year. When given an opportunity, I would like to play basketball in college.

In summary, my academic, leadership roles in the community, and athletic journeys thus far, have been filled with several accolades and satisfaction. My leadership skills have emerged to be extremely impactful to vulnerable communities which I aspire to serve and be a role model for. I am a dynamic student who adapts to any challenging learning environment. I also thrive well in a multi-disciplinary and multicultural environment. I do believe the university in which I am applying will possess these credentials which will allow me to succeed in my undergraduate academic pursuit and in my basketball dream as well.