High School Resume
EDUCATION
Duke University, Durham, NC
Pratt School of Engineering (Pursuing B.S. in Mechanical Engineering)
August 2024-present
Carrboro High School, Carrboro, NC
(August 2020 – June 2024). Received High School Diploma
Unweighted GPA of 4.0. Weighted GPA of 4.65 ACT score of 35
Graduated in top 3% of class
Additional Courses & Programs
• Johns Hopkins Engineering Innovation Program, Whiting School of Engineering (Summer, 2023). Three credit college course on multiple engineering disciplines. Received an A in this course.
• Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), Python, and GitHub courses at BWSI, MIT School of Engineering/Lincoln Labs (Spring, 2023). Coded in Python and GitHub, and learned about AUVs. Received certificates for these three courses.
• Catalyzing eXploration in Chemistry Workshop, Center for Integrated Analysis (Spring, 2022). Workshop on chemistry of electrical circuits, solar panels, and hydrolysis. Received a certificate.
• Civil, Environmental, Renewable, and Alternative Energy Engineering Course at Syracuse University (Summer, 2021). Environmental engineering infrastructure. Received a certificate.
HONORS & AWARDS
2023 2024 Cameron Impact Scholar Finalist, Bryan Cameron Education Foundation
2023 Elected to the Junior Academy, New York Academy of Sciences
2023 AP Scholar with Honor Award, College Board
2023 Outstanding Academic Achievement Award, College Board national rural/small town program
2023 National Merit Commended Student
2023 President & Commissioner Awards, Triangle Nonprofit & Volunteer Leadership Center
2023 Points of Light Awardee from the Points of Light Foundation
2023 Earth Day Award, National Society of High School Scholars Foundation.
2023 Hometown Hero Award from Chapelboro (WCHL, The Hill)
2023 Aspiring Leader Award, Habitat for Humanity, NC
2018-2023 Won medals for science competitions in the NC Science Olympiad Regional Finals
2023 National Community Service Ambassador Award from the United Nations Association of the United States of America
2023 North Carolina Community Impact Award from the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service
2023 Zero Hunger Hero Award from The Kroger Company
2022 Semifinals in the Diamond Challenge, Global High School Entrepreneurship Competition
2021 Elected by Carrboro High School to the National Technical Honor Society
2021 Elected by Carrboro High School to the National Honor Society
2021 Elected to the National Society of High School Scholars
2020 U.S. President’s Education Program Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
President and Founder, Habitat for Humanity (HFH) Club, Carrboro High School (9th-12th grades).
Led and organized activities for over 100 members, led team to build/repair 21 houses, started new initiatives, petitioned local congresspersons to push for fair housing legislation, and fundraised for HFH. Initiated The Equity Project, a fundraising campaign for creating equal opportunities for all by building and renovating homes in under-resourced areas. Leader in HFH Youth United council and raised over $15,000 for HFH.
President, Science Olympiad Club, Carrboro High School (11th-12th grades); Advisor (9th-10th grades).
Led and organized activities for all 30 members, helped members with their projects in all areas of science, led the team in participation at regional Science Olympiad competitions, and helped team win multiple medals in various categories e.g., Machines, Designer Genes, Anatomy/Physiology, Dynamic Planet, and Bridge events.
Vice President, Modern Physics Club (11th-12th grades).
Contextualizing and understanding modern Physics. Led presentations and discussions on topics for 11 members related to concepts in modern physics theories and observations.
Treasurer, National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) (10th-12th grades).
Presented meetings for members and maintained financial records for the school chapter.
Service Committee Member, National Honor Society (NHS) (10th-12th grades).
Planned volunteer opportunities for Service Branch including volunteering for recycling and a lunch program.
Founder, COSLR, LLC.
Created company to build ‘Solar Shield’ a device that charges small electronics.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, VOLUNTEERISM, & WORK EXPERIENCE
BlueStamp Engineering Program (12th grade/Summer 2023).
Learned electrical engineering and programming in Arduino. Created a solar tracker to track the sun.
Junior Academy Member, New York Academy of Sciences (11th-12th grades).
Collaborated with international team members across the globe to address the world’s biggest challenges. Worked on issues including water sustainability and conservation.
Laboratory Researcher (11th grade/Summer 2022).
Performed research designing novel organic solar cells at the UNC-Chapel Hill in the laboratory of Dr. Wei You, Chair, Department of Chemistry. Analyzed efficiency of organic solar cells containing zinc oxide and evaluated parameters e.g. concentration, oxidation, and doping on light absorbance and electrical conductivity.
Participant, Beta Bowl Youth Entrepreneurship Program (9th grade/Winter, 2021).
Created a Solar Shield (COSLR), which is a sun shield made of solar panels that can charge small electronics.
Placed in Semi-Finals, 2022 Diamond Challenge Competition (10th grade/Spring, 2022).
Submitted the COSLR Solar Shield (sun shield made of solar panels that can charge small electronics).
Volunteer at Chapel Hill IFC HomeStart in Chapel Hill, NC (9th-12th grades).
HomeStart is an emergency shelter for homeless families. Provided meals on a monthly basis for 15 families.
Math Tutor, Carrboro High School (11th-12th grades).
Taught students Math 3 and Pre-Calculus mathematical concepts and helped review their work.
Member, Robotics Club, Carrboro High School (9th-12th grades).
Building and coding a competitive robot to perform tasks for state competitions.
Participant, Materials Science & Engineering Camp, North Carolina State University (Summer 2021).
Took coursework in material sciences and engineering and performed laboratory experiments.
Exhibitor, BrickFair LEGO Fan Expo, Chantilly, VA (Summer 2021).
Created LEGO model landscape, "Twisting Terrain," and showcased in person.
Participant, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Camp (Summer 2020).
Took coursework in microbiology, genetics, and mathematics.
Participant, Online Edx course: The Art of Structural Engineering: Bridges (Summer/Fall 2020).
Learned about the structural engineering involved in designing bridges.
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATION
Dittmer, C. Advancements in solar cell technology: renewable energy for the future. Journal of High School Science (Scholastica) 7(2), 2023. https://bit.ly/JHSSadvancements-in-solar-cell-technology
MEDIA RECOGNITION FOR VOLUNTEERISM & INVENTION
Hometown Hero Award https://bit.ly/hometownherodittmer
Earth Day Award https://bit.ly/EarthDayAwardDittmer & https://bit.ly/DittmerCHMagazine
The Local Reporter article https://bit.ly/buildhomesdittmer
Habitat for Humanity, NC https://bit.ly/habitatdittmer
Ronald McDonald House volunteer https://bit.ly/volunteerdittmer