Hey, I'm Will.
A developer, writer, and sailor.
Where You've Seen Me.
Because of my work with the FPA, I have been in the news a few times. Below is a collection of a few times that I have made it into the local news.
Fairfield County teens teach other students how to code
WESTPORT — Computer scientists seek each other out. At least, that's what co-founder of the Fairfield Programming Association Neil Chaudhari says. It's a nonprofit started by Greens Farms Academy students dedicated to providing computer science education in Fairfield County, and will soon expand.
Challenging Intellectual Property in the Coding Game
At seven years old, now senior Will McGonagle “feigned illness” to stay home from school. While this is not usually celebrated in GFA publications, Will’s intentions were (pretty) pure. “I wanted to learn how to make my own video games so that I could make some new friends,” he admits. When he Googled “how to make a video game” free online coding courses came up and in short order, he was a self-taught coder with a new passion.
Fairfield County Teens Look To Educate Others In Computer Science
DARIEN, CT — With technology seemingly ingrained in every aspect of life, the need for computer literacy has never been higher. Some local teenagers hope to fulfill that need through Fairfield Programing Association (FPA), a student-run nonprofit that aims to teach computer science to underserved students here in the United States and abroad.
Seniors, Soloists Soar at Upper School Spring Concert
On Tuesday, May 16 the Upper School concert wowed audience members by featuring upbeat numbers and popular selections. It was a special evening for our senior GFA musicians including Wick Ackerman, Dylan Cofsky, Molly Duffy, Charles Henry, Elias Kennon, Will McGonagle, Tyler Shea, and Charlie Yates of the Wind Ensemble, LyNeta Brand, Kendall Caron-Quinn, Daniela Galik, Elizabeth Jones, Max Laferriere, Charles LaFreniere, Sadie Paulos...
Bridgeport-Local Programming Program Goes Global
Neil Chaudhari started coding in 8th grade, the summer before entering Greens Farms Academy. He knows he’s lucky. Many schools don’t teach computer science at all. Computer literacy — including coding — are “so important,” Neil says. “It teaches analytical thinking and problem solving. Those skills are imperative to any student’s success.: So a couple of years ago he and a friend, William McGonagle, founded the Fairfield Programming Association. Neil is now a rising senior. William graduated, and is at Georgetown University. And FPA is flourishing.
Coding to Build Community in South-Western Connecticut
Often, great ideas are born from the desire to fulfill a need. Computer science aficionados-turned-advocates Neil Chaudhari ’24 and junior Will McGonagle ’23 noticed that their shared passion for programming didn’t have much of a community presence, particularly among people their age. That, they decided, needed to change.
My Skills.
I learned to code when I was seven years old, feigning illness so I could stay home from school to learn Javascript and build my own video game.
Next.jsTailwindTypescriptPostgreSQLPrismaGit + GithubCI/CDJava + KotlinPythonC++JavascriptC#CSSHTMLDartFigmaFlutterUnityMicrosoft ExcelPHPReactSASSRSSHTTPOpenGLMicrosoft WordBashCMicrosoft Powerpoint
A Little About Me.
A picture speaks a thousand words, so consider this a 3,0006,000 word writeup about my life.
I'm from Connecticut.
We're known as the 'Nutmeg State', but we also have access to the beautiful sound.
I've always loved machines.
Since I was a kid, I would take apart and fix broken nicknacks and devices.
I go to Georgetown.
Located in the Nation's Capital, I have gotten the opportunity to meet interesting people and experience cool new things.
Finally, My Favorite Poem.
I love three poems: 'Do Not Go Gentle', 'Annabel Lee', and 'Do Not Stand At My Grave and Weep'. But, by far 'Do Not Go Gentle' is my favorite.
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.