Pooja Thaker, 18
Pooja Thaker: Coding with Compassion, Creating with Purpose
Pooja Thaker didn’t just stumble into tech. She marched in with purpose, empathy, and a surprising childhood love for ST Math. While most kids groaned at math games, Pooja was captivated by the image-based passcodes and clever puzzles. “I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to play even before I had my own account,” she recalls. By first grade, she was hitting 100% completion and thriving on the challenge. It wasn’t about earning stars. It was the spark of something deeper: a love for logic, for problem-solving, and eventually, for code.
Her real turning point came during the Hour of Code in third grade. “Compared to ST Math, Code.org was something entirely new. For the first time, I wasn’t just solving a problem someone else had given me, I was creating something of my own.” That moment flipped a switch. Code wasn’t just a tool. It was a way to tell stories, animate ideas, and build a better world.
Today, Pooja is a freshman at Virginia Tech and an alumnus of the Science and Engineering Magnet Program, where she has completed three CS research projects, two internships, and is currently a fellow on a machine learning research team. She was also the President of her school’s Girls Who Code chapter, mentoring younger coders and building a culture of inclusion in tech.
But the classroom is only half the story. At hackathons like HackFree and other MLH events, Pooja thrives. “Hackathons helped me realize that computer science is the perfect intersection of both: where creativity meets algorithms, where imagination meets impact.” From developing a visual therapy app for amblyopia to designing game NPCs with realistic AI conversations, she doesn’t just build to win—she builds to care.
Her projects have been awarded, published, and presented, but what drives her isn’t the recognition. It’s connection. She recalls a moment at HackFree 2024 when, after talking passionately about her project, someone stayed and listened. Really listened. “That moment reminded me: my voice matters here. This is where I belong.”
Pooja’s blend of artistic vision and technical grit makes her stand out. Her favorite language is Python, her go-to editor is VS Code, and her ideal Friday night includes a coding sprint, a deep philosophical conversation, and a plate of Little Bites snacks, preferably obtained through a stealthy kitchen mission with her hackathon crew.
What sets Pooja apart isn’t just her skillset. It’s her mindset. “I build not just for innovation, but for people,” she says. She sees code as a form of care, a way to make tech more human and inclusive. “I’m always thinking about the deeper meaning behind things,” she adds…and that thoughtful perspective is reflected in everything she creates, from accessible health apps to her leadership style. Whether she’s mentoring younger students, organizing community projects, or turning pizza parties into unforgettable memories, Pooja shows up with purpose, humor, and a belief that creating with kindness is just as powerful as writing clean code.
Quick Facts
Pooja Thaker, 18
Pooja Thaker: Coding with Compassion, Creating with Purpose
Pooja Thaker didn’t just stumble into tech. She marched in with purpose, empathy, and a surprising childhood love for ST Math. While most kids groaned at math games, Pooja was captivated by the image-based passcodes and clever puzzles. “I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to play even before I had my own account,” she recalls. By first grade, she was hitting 100% completion and thriving on the challenge. It wasn’t about earning stars. It was the spark of something deeper: a love for logic, for problem-solving, and eventually, for code.
Her real turning point came during the Hour of Code in third grade. “Compared to ST Math, Code.org was something entirely new. For the first time, I wasn’t just solving a problem someone else had given me, I was creating something of my own.” That moment flipped a switch. Code wasn’t just a tool. It was a way to tell stories, animate ideas, and build a better world.
Today, Pooja is a freshman at Virginia Tech and an alumnus of the Science and Engineering Magnet Program, where she has completed three CS research projects, two internships, and is currently a fellow on a machine learning research team. She was also the President of her school’s Girls Who Code chapter, mentoring younger coders and building a culture of inclusion in tech.
But the classroom is only half the story. At hackathons like HackFree and other MLH events, Pooja thrives. “Hackathons helped me realize that computer science is the perfect intersection of both: where creativity meets algorithms, where imagination meets impact.” From developing a visual therapy app for amblyopia to designing game NPCs with realistic AI conversations, she doesn’t just build to win—she builds to care.
Her projects have been awarded, published, and presented, but what drives her isn’t the recognition. It’s connection. She recalls a moment at HackFree 2024 when, after talking passionately about her project, someone stayed and listened. Really listened. “That moment reminded me: my voice matters here. This is where I belong.”
Pooja’s blend of artistic vision and technical grit makes her stand out. Her favorite language is Python, her go-to editor is VS Code, and her ideal Friday night includes a coding sprint, a deep philosophical conversation, and a plate of Little Bites snacks, preferably obtained through a stealthy kitchen mission with her hackathon crew.
What sets Pooja apart isn’t just her skillset. It’s her mindset. “I build not just for innovation, but for people,” she says. She sees code as a form of care, a way to make tech more human and inclusive. “I’m always thinking about the deeper meaning behind things,” she adds…and that thoughtful perspective is reflected in everything she creates, from accessible health apps to her leadership style. Whether she’s mentoring younger students, organizing community projects, or turning pizza parties into unforgettable memories, Pooja shows up with purpose, humor, and a belief that creating with kindness is just as powerful as writing clean code.
