At Cushman High School, students are not only prepared academically but are encouraged to become changemakers in their communities. One of the key programs shaping this mindset is the Society and Me (SAM) Challenge — a required, four-year course for all Cushman High School students designed to cultivate critical thinking, problem-solving, communication and leadership skills.
Through SAM, students identify and analyze pressing issues of our time, from hunger and poverty to climate change, human trafficking, body image, and teenage mental health. Each student selects a topic to explore independently, conducts research, interviews experts, and develops actionable solutions that positively impact society.
Connecting with the Community through Coding
Community outreach is deeply embedded in the Cushman experience, beginning in the early grades and extending through Upper School. Through meaningful partnerships with local and global organizations, Cushman students develop empathy, leadership, and a hands-on understanding of social responsibility.
One shining example of how one student impacts the community through meaningful action is demonstrated by Arihant Jaggi, an 11th grader at Cushman High School and co-founder of the Young Coders Initiative (YCI). Arihant and his team have dedicated over 2,500 hours to mentoring more than 700 students, bringing coding education to underprivileged youth in schools across Miami, South Florida and several international locations.
Founded just over two and a half years ago, YCI is a student-led non-profit promoting computational literacy and STEM career opportunities. The initiative has expanded to 14 branches in high schools across South Florida, including Miami Beach Senior High, Ransom, and Country Day, with over 70 high school volunteers contributing to its mission. International chapters in Chicago, Dubai, and New Delhi are now helping underserved students gain access to coding education worldwide.
Through partnerships with organizations like Breakthrough Miami, Black Girls Who Math, Achieve Miami, and Overtown Youth Centre, YCI provides hands-on coding lessons in Python, Java, and HTML, complete with assignments and projects to ensure students gain practical experience. Arihant’s vision as YCI President is to continue scaling this movement, demonstrating that students can empower their own communities through technology and innovation.
For more information about the Young Coders Initiative, visit www.youngcodersinitiative.org or follow their journey on Instagram at @yci.official.
The Cushman School is proud of Arihant and all our high school students who prove through their SAM work that education goes beyond the classroom — by combining rigorous academics, service learning, and innovative programs like SAM and YCI, Cushman students have a competitive edge by being leaders, problem-solvers and change makers, not just in the future, but today!