> Articles by: Gabriel Fuchs

Gabriel Fuchs

UTulsa Engineering Student, University School Teacher Collaborate on Eighth-grade Computer Engineering Course

Chris Hopton Headshot
Chris Hopton

A student from The University of Tulsa’s Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) is demonstrating the power of hands-on learning, community engagement, and the college’s mission – right here in Tulsa.

Chris Hopton, an UTulsa ECS graduate, partnered with Kevin Vincent, a STEM teacher at University School, to develop a new computer engineering elective for eighth grade students. The course introduces foundational computer science concepts through hands-on lab work and real-world applications.

The collaboration began when Hopton agreed to tutor seventh and eighth graders a few hours each week. But the partnership quickly evolved into something more impactful when they discovered they had a mutual interest in building a new challenging course for computer engineering.

“Near the end of that semester we talked about pushing the kids, which led to creating a computer engineering course for eighth graders,” said Hopton. “Kevin constructed lesson plans over the summer, and I was in charge of developing labs for the students.”

The duo worked together to cross-check lessons and finalize the curriculum. Once course development was finalized, interested students enrolled and began working through challenging workshops that both reinforced earlier computer science lessons and introduced new hardware and software concepts.

“Once the course started, Chris made a seamless transition from developer to teacher,” said Vincent. “He was well respected by the students and was able to interact with them at their level of expertise. He demonstrated a natural ability to teach, challenge, and motivate the students to learn more than they thought possible.”

Kevin Vincent headshot
Kevin Vincent

Vincent emphasized that Hopton’s role was integral to the success of the course.

“Without Chris’s expertise, positive mindset, and development of quality lab exercises, we would not have been ready for the initial offering of the course,” Vincent said.

For Hopton, the project extended far beyond a service learning opportunity. It also helped him freshen up on courses he took during his freshman year. He double majored in electrical engineering and computer science, two skillsets that made him the right candidate.

“Without Kevin’s experience and encouragement, I do not think I would have ended up creating brand new courses,” said Hopton. “I’m glad I did. This gave more back to the community than tutoring alone could have.”

The students took notice, too.

“Without Chris and Mr. Vincent’s partnership, I do not think the class would have succeeded as well as it did,” the student said. “Having two teachers helped accelerate the troubleshooting process by a significant amount, allowing us to advance further in the lessons.”

Hopton’s initiative at University School showcases a core value of the College of Engineering & Computer Science: stewardship through community engagement.

“He made himself available,” said Hazem Refai, ECE endowed chair at UTulsa. “It felt good for him to develop real-world materials for the students. Helping Kevin, University School and the community is something Chris values and we all value here at the college.”

Through initiatives like this, UTulsa engineering students are putting their education into action, building relationships and making a difference in Tulsa and beyond.

Films, Faust, Jazz, and JavaScript : The Many Talents of Mason Chow (USchool ’17; TU ’25)

Mason Chow is a young Renaissance man for the digital age—a classical violinist turned jazz bassist, an award-winning documentarian, a cybersecurity researcher, and a University School alum who still credits his formative years there as the bedrock of his diverse success.

Sitting down for an interview shortly after graduating from the University of Tulsa, Chow reflects with humility and clarity on his journey from the classrooms of University School to graduate school, where he now conducts student research while pursuing his master’s degree in Cyber Security at his alma mater. “University School was a really positive environment,” Chow says. “I had a lot of really good teachers, and especially in the later grades, the rhythm of the work helped me develop good study habits—skills I kept coming back to later.”

Those habits were put to the test when he transitioned to Jenks High School, where he found the academic expectations surprisingly lax in comparison. “They wouldn’t let me take any APs right away because it did not work in their system,” he explains. The adjustment was frustrating at first. “It—lesser expectations—demotivated me a little,” he admits. “But I redirected my energy.” That redirection, helped by a love of learning ingrained in his earlier education, led him to reading voraciously for fun, taking a screenwriting course, and ultimately discovering a passion for film and music.

Film class became a creative haven. Chow worked under a teacher who happened to be a former filmmaker and brought professional-level passion to high school media. Chow flourished under that mentorship, producing award-winning documentaries—including one on the opioid crisis and another on Native American justice post-McGirt—that earned recognition from C-SPAN. “Learning how to tell stories and master technical tools—that was huge for me,” he says. To go along with his awards for creative journalistic pursuits, he earned academic recognition as a National Merit Semifinalist.

He also devoted time to orchestra, a natural extension of his childhood involvement in the Tulsa Youth Symphony. Although he began playing violin at age five more out of obligation than joy, he found his love for music in college. “Someone asked me to join a jazz ensemble on day three of college,” he laughs. “Suddenly, everything I had learned clicked.”

Chow’s time at the University of Tulsa proved to be a period of intense growth. Though he formally studied computer science and cybersecurity, he unofficially pursued a music major as well, balancing his time between code and chord changes. He joined TU’s honors program, which culminated in a capstone project that fused his interests: a collaborative jazz performance based on the Faust legend. Chow composed original music, led rehearsals, and even challenged himself by switching from violin to upright bass for the performance. “It was the first time I’d written music to such a professional standard,” he says. “I knew exactly what I wanted and could communicate it to musicians I hadn’t worked with before.”

In parallel, Chow was a University of Tulsa Presidential Scholar. He also contributed to research in autonomous agents as part of the Tulsa Undergraduate Research Challenge—an experience that helped him understand the mechanics behind artificial intelligence just as the public wave of interest in large language models hit.

Now, Chow is diving headfirst into the next chapter. As a graduate student at The University of Tulsa, he’s exploring cyber security with an eye toward consulting and auditing but remains open to new possibilities. “I’ve recently been surprised by how much I enjoy software development,” he says. True to form, he’s still playing jazz, still seeking challenges, and still pushing himself into unfamiliar territory.

Reflecting on University School, Chow doesn’t hesitate to praise the community that helped shape him. “It’s a special place,” he says. “The teachers and administrators really care—not just about grades, but about who you’re becoming. That support, those relationships, they stay with you.”

From classical strings to digital security, from deep reading to technical mastery, Mason Chow’s story is one of continual reinvention. And if his time at University School laid the foundation, his future—creative, curious, and committed—looks as bright as ever.

University School Robotics Shines at States

We are thrilled to announce that all four University School FLL teams qualified for the Oklahoma State Robotics competition, held on December 7, 2024, in Edmond, Oklahoma. This prestigious event featured the top 30 teams from across the state, selected from a pool of nearly 160 teams that competed in various qualifying events.

Each year, FLL competitions revolve around a theme that requires participants to identify a relevant problem, design solutions and robots, and present their work to judges. This year’s theme, ‘SUBMERGED,’ challenged students to address issues related to oceans and marine life. Importantly, FLL judging is not only about design and robot performance; significant emphasis is placed on leadership and presentation skills—two areas where University School students excel. Teams are also evaluated on their teamwork and how well they treat each other. One of University School’s teams (Team 13054) took 1st place in the Core Values category, being recognized for their ability to laugh together and work through miscommunications.

University School’s representative teams (all named creatively in relation to the theme) achieved remarkable success:

  • Team 13060, the Little Mermaidz: Placed 4th in Project Presentation.
  • Team 13054, the SUBway Surferz: Secured 1st place in Core Values.
  • Team 7459, the Chickens of the Sea: Earned 2nd place in Project Presentation.
  • Team 7461, Send Kelp!: Achieved 4th place overall and won a Champions Award. This team has been chosen to represent Oklahoma at the California Invitational event, which will take place over Memorial Day weekend.

Out of the 30 teams at the state competition, only 16 awards were presented, making our teams’ accomplishments even more impressive. We are incredibly proud of the phenomenal work our students have done this semester and the way they represent our school.

This year’s successes can be added to a long string of prior achievements. This year marks the fourth consecutive year that all University School teams have qualified for the state competition. However, it is the first time that all teams have won a trophy at the state level. In 2019, University School won 1st place at overall at state.

Congratulations to all our teams for their hard work and dedication! We look forward to seeing what they will achieve next.

University School 6th-Grader Wins Statewide Piano Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                        

Oklahoma piano student Jade Holt is a Division Finalist in the Music Teachers National Association Junior Piano Competition.

 

Tulsa, Oklahoma, 11/04/2024 — Jade Holt, a Tulsa native, will compete as a Division Finalist in the MTNA South Central Division Junior Piano Performance.

 

Holt, the daughter of Yuejuan Li, earned this opportunity after winning the Oklahoma State Junior Piano Performance Competition. A sixth grader at the University School, Holt has been studying piano for 6 years and is currently a student of Dr. Stuart Deaver at the University of Tulsa.

 

A bright and dedicated student, Holt has participated in competitions and has received numerous awards at local, state, and international levels. She has performed at renowned venues, including Carnegie Hall and Van Cliburn Hall, and was featured on NBC Los Angeles for a pilot program. Recently, in December 2023, she performed as a solo pianist with the Tulsa Youth Symphony under the baton of Maestro Richard Wagner. In April 2024, she won the University of Tulsa Concerto Aria Competition, earning the privilege to perform at University of Tulsa President’s Concert. In May, Holt was recognized by the Tulsa Downtown Rotary Foundation when receiving the Crescendo Music Grant and Bob Lengacher Award of $2,000.  In June, she consequently attended PianoTexas in Fort Worth, performing in the Van Cliburn Hall.

 

In addition to her musical talents, Holt excels academically, showing a strong passion for math and sciences. She is currently advanced by three grades and is taking high school algebra. In her free time, she loves to read and play with her little brother.

 

The winner of the division competition will compete in the National Finals. Division winners will be announced in mid-January.

 

The three-tiered MTNA competitions begin at the state level. Winners of each State Competition advance to the Division Competition. Division winners then proceed to the National Competition Finals.

 

To receive more information about the MTNA National Competitions, including competition rules and applications please contact MTNA national headquarters at (888) 512-5278, mtnanet@mtna.org or visit the website at www.mtna.org.

 

Music Teachers National Association is a nonprofit organization comprised of 17,000 independent and collegiate music teachers committed to advancing the value of music study and music making to society and to supporting the professionalism of music teachers. Founded in 1876, Music Teachers National Association is the oldest professional music association in the United States.