With the aroma of pizza and the sound of chatter filling the room, the pressure of the tough competition slowly fades. After a challenging competition that tested their skills in an array of coding problems, the members of the Brookline Computer Science Initiative gather to unwind and socialize.
The Brookline Computer Science Initiative is not only a club where students can enhance their programming skills, but also a supportive network. The club was founded by senior Mikhail Zhernevskii, who now works with seniors Lucas Chen and Tyler Sacharow as co-leaders of the club. They meet every week during X-block in room 373. The club has quickly grown, attracting members who are eager to collaborate and learn from one another.
Zhernevskii developed his passion for computer science after participating in a free boot camp in Russia that introduced him to many new concepts. While it was a large amount of work—about 20 hours a week—Zhernevskii said he enjoyed the process because of his passion for programming.
“In my previous country, Russia, I was part of the big computer science community,” Zhernevskii said. “And when I arrived here, I realized there is no such community. So, I decided to find my own.”
Sophomore and club member Ethan Chen said he values the Brookline Computer Science Initiative for the support and connections it fosters.
“The community is great. We meet in person, but we also have an online community with international students,” Ethan Chen said.
In addition to coding during X-block meetings, the Brookline Computer Science Initiative participates in major coding olympiads, which are high-level national and international competitions that challenge students to solve complex algorithmic problems and apply their programming skills competitively.
This year, the club took a major leap by organizing the Massachusetts Computer Science Olympiad (MASCO). The competition aimed to fill the gap in local in-person events, attracting 281 global participants online from over 40 countries. In the final round, 50 competitors came in person, with some traveling from as far as California and Canada. The content included ten complex algorithmic problems, challenging competitors to efficiently utilize their coding skills. The top six finalists were awarded prizes worth over $10,000, including Amazon gift cards and software from the competition’s sponsors.
According to Ethan Chen, these olympiads require skills beyond the material covered in computer science classes at the high school. He said the club can bridge the gap between what is learned in school and what is necessary for competitions.
“The Brookline High School coding curriculum doesn’t cover enough to reach Olympiad levels, so we help students learn more than what’s covered in AP Java,” Ethan Chen said. “We review the entrance exam to help students learn and practice for coding competitions.”
Beyond the coding and competitions, Lucas Chen said the club’s varied opportunities encourages members to lead in areas beyond programming.
“Our club isn’t just about people coding together,” Lucas Chen said. “There are also opportunities for students to contribute by hosting fundraisers, asking for donations or doing logistical work.”
Zhernevskii said the principal goal of the club is to foster a community of passionate coders, especially those who want to explore beyond what is offered in typical computer science courses. Instead of paying for expensive coding courses, the club offers an environment where students learn, ask questions and collaborate at no cost.
“The main goal of the club is to unite people who have an interest in computer science beyond the standard curriculum,” Zhernevskii said. “They can join our club to explore their passion even further than they can at school.”
Two corrections were made on Sunday, Dec. 1. The club is called the Brookline Computer Science Initiative, not the Computer Science Club. Also, according to Zhernevskii, 50 competitors came in person, not 25.
