Lauriston Girls’ School / Inspirit AI 2024
Spring AI Programs

Impact Report

Program Overview

In Spring 2025, Markham College launched its inaugural AI summer program for high schoolers. This two-week initiative introduced students to artificial intelligence fundamentals and guided them to build socially-impactful AI projects. The program combined hands-on coding, ethical discussions, real-world case studies, and coding labs, culminating in a showcase of student-led innovations addressing real world challenges.

AI Scholars for High School Students

Program Highlights

Dates:

April 2-April 12, 2025

Participants:

Participants: 22 students from rising years 7-12 (split by year level/experience into two classes of ~11 apiece)

Inspirit Faculty:

Udgam Goyal, M.S. MIT, B.S. MIT

Brianna Chrisman, Ph.D. Stanford, B.S. Yale

Curriculum Overview:

Python, machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, neural networks, linear/logistic regression, AI+Ethics, positioning research projects in college applications (for high schoolers only), capstone projects unifying coding skill, ethical sensitivity, and research design

Capstone Projects:

Safeguarding Bee Health and Ecosystems (AI+Sustainability)

Bean Plant Disease Diagnosis (AI+Susatinability)

Malaria Detection (AI+Medicine)

Towards Precision Medicine in Colorectal Cancer (AI+Medicine)

Outcomes and Impact

100%

of students responding to the final survey reported improved confidence in understanding and applying AI concepts, Python skills, and AI research design.

100%

of students successfully built an AI model to answer a specific research question.

80%

of students expressed a desire to pursue further AI or computer science education.

Student Feedback

“I liked learning about how AI works and exploring different kinds of machine models online.”

“I really enjoyed learning about AI in a deeper context. For example, learning about convoluted neural networks, classification and regression, and being able to apply those skills in a project.”

“I really loved to learn a general understanding of AI, and got a chance to practise my public speaking skills.”

“Learning about python coding and how neural networks work, computer vision and natural language processing. Also the end group project was very fun.”

“I loved how it covered such a wide range of knowledge on artificial intelligence, I was able to gain a very holistic foundational understanding. I especially liked discussing the ethics surrounding AI.”

“I really liked how we built our knowledge of AI step by step, so we we finally got to convolutional neural networks I actually understood it. :) I liked the notebooks and how all the instructions were really clear so I knew what I needed to code. I also just like how the instructors were really interactive and eager to answer questions. I also loved the machine learning project at the end, and all the group work. I also like the short session about college applications.”

“The teachers were really nice and funny, and they made us feel really welcome. I overall had an amazing time at the AI Scholars program - I got to learn so many new and complicated things, meet different girls and make so many friends. “

Community and Culture

The programs fostered a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration: students from coding, humanities, and design backgrounds worked in teams on both mini-projects and the capstone project endeavor.

Instructor spotlight talks featured current faculty’s applied AI research in both laboratory and industry settings.

Students developed a strong sense of purpose-driven learning, anchoring technical knowledge in social good, and walked away with a set of ethical precepts to guide further research they may undertake in AI/ML.

Looking Ahead

→ Give students more time to complete an optional but recommended pre-program Python crash course (especially for novice coders)

→ Improve financial aid to expand opportunities for underserved students