John F. Kennedy High School continues to expand opportunities for students through its partnership with the Colorado School of Mines, now in its second pilot year of offering Cornerstone Engineering Design as a Concurrent Enrollment course led by Ms. Heather Randall.
As part of this college-level experience, seniors Sheryl Goc and Lo Pan Chan recently completed an in-depth engineering project focused on improving waste management at JFK. Their work reflects the rigor and expectations of an introductory engineering program, where students engage in hands-on, team-based problem solving rooted in real-world challenges.
The students began by researching waste practices on campus, conducting surveys and interviewing key stakeholders including custodial staff, administrators, and the district sustainability team. Their findings revealed that improper waste disposal at JFK is driven not only by system limitations, but also by a lack of student awareness and engagement.
Using the engineering design process, the team developed and evaluated multiple solutions before proposing a “Smart Waste Sorting System.” Their design incorporates AI-supported image recognition to identify waste items and guide users to the correct disposal option through an interactive system that requires active participation. The goal is not only to reduce contamination, but also to educate students and promote long-term behavior change.
In addition to the technical design, the project included physical prototyping, user-focused infographics, cost analysis, and implementation planning—demonstrating a comprehensive approach to engineering problem solving.
This project highlights the impact of Cornerstone Design at JFK: students are not just learning about engineering—they are applying it to improve their own community. Through this partnership, students gain valuable college credit while developing the skills, mindset, and confidence to pursue future pathways in STEM.