For Wilson High School senior Harrison Eck, computer science isn\u2019t something confined to a screen \u2014 it\u2019s something he can build, shape and hold in his hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo many, computer science is a purely digital pursuit,\u201d he said. \u201cIn contrast, my experience has been practical and hands-on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eck, the 2026 Berks\u2019 Best winner in computer science, has transformed his technical knowledge into tangible results, designing an electric guitar through computer-aided software and programming a computer number control, or CNC, router to carve a custom snare drum.<\/p>\n
As a student in Wilson\u2019s STEM Academy, Harrison distinguished himself through both academic achievement and a drive to exceed expectations.<\/p>\n
He is a Rensselaer Medal recipient, a National Merit Commended Scholar and a top performer in mathematics competitions, placing first in his school in the American Mathematics Competitions, or AMC, 10 and 12.<\/p>\n
In the classroom, Eck\u2019s work reflects discipline and creativity, his teacher Ryan Dennes said. Dennes, described Eck as a student who consistently goes above and beyond and approaches complex engineering challenges with curiosity and determination.<\/p>\n
That mindset extends into music, where Harrison performs in marching band, jazz band, wind ensemble and indoor percussion. As a drummer, he has learned that leadership often happens behind the scenes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn jazz, the music isn\u2019t found on the page, but in the pocket,\u201d he said, describing the subtle synchronization that holds an ensemble together.<\/p>\n
Whether bridging timing between sections on the marching field or collaborating on engineering projects, he focuses on creating a steady foundation others can rely on.<\/p>\n
That same sense of responsibility carries into his community work. Harrison has volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters events, school fundraisers and even served as a machine operator during local elections, helping voters navigate equipment and ensuring the process runs smoothly.<\/p>\n
He also balances a part-time job at a local supermarket, assisting customers through the store\u2019s pickup service.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, Eck said he plans to study electrical engineering and pursue licensure as a professional engineer. His long-term goal is to launch his own firm, where he can apply his skills to solve real-world challenges in communities across the country.<\/p>\n
Inspired in part by Gavin Harrison, a British drummer known for his technical precision, creativity and mastery of complex rhythms, Eck embraced the idea that mastering fundamentals creates room for innovation.<\/p>\n
Whether programming machines, building instruments or supporting those around him, Eck said he strives to be a reliable pulse others can depend on, helping to bring ideas into sync and solutions to effect.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For Wilson High School senior Harrison Eck, computer science isn\u2019t something confined to a screen \u2014 it\u2019s something…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":193440,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[349,85079,227,182,139,28,128,130,129,706],"class_list":["post-193439","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-reading","tag-berks-county","tag-berks-best-2026","tag-education","tag-local-news","tag-news","tag-pennsylvania","tag-reading-city","tag-reading-city-headlines","tag-reading-city-news","tag-top-stories-reg"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/193439","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=193439"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/193439\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/193440"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=193439"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=193439"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=193439"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}