Zackary Sprague

Computer Science

ABOUT ME

I am a recent graduate from Northern Kentucky University, majored in computer science and minored in mathematics. I have also completed my graduate degree in computer science with a focus on cyber security from the University of Cincinnati. I enjoy creating new software and repairing or "messing" with different technological equipment. Throughout my education, I have developed my main interest in back-end software development. However I still enjoy front-end development like web design! On the other hand, I am actively searching for software development or IT related positions, whether it is an internship/co-op or full-time employment!

WORK EXPERIENCE

Software Integration Intern / Systems Analyst

Heritage Bank

Burlington, Kentucky

September 2020 - Current

This position has given me great experience in incorporating the skills I have learned in the classroom as well as skills from previous workplaces. Heritage Bank offered me an internship as I was finishing up my graduate degree. I was then offered a full-time position to be a systems analyst.

The experience at Heritage Bank has challenged me into learning the finance side of IT and how IT is crucial to be secure and to maintain sustainability. Aside from cyber security, as an analyst, I generate reports using various software or create visuals with Python to simplify the data for end-users.

Manufacturing IT Intern

Robert Bosch Automotive Steering

Florence, Kentucky

May 2019 - May 2020

This position opened my eyes to real-world development and how IT is such an impactful aspect of automated manufacturing! Besides working with the IT, I experienced how the engineering cycle was used to design and produce successful products for multiple clients. The main role in this position was understanding/maintaining/developing PLC (Programmable Logical Controls) diagrams within a production line. Experienced PLC's through ladder diagram (LAD) and statement list (STL). Along with troubleshooting robotics and HMI interface programming if applicable.

Besides experience with PLCs, I would approve employee requests using the OIS Authorization Manager. The OIS Quality Data allows employees to monitor and retrieve data within that production line. Also, I would replace faulty hard drives obtaining to the PCs or setup TV monitors above every production line to view their OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness).

PROJECTS

Game Of Life

In this project, there is a grid of 32 x 32 cells. You can click on any cell to make them "alive" turning them orange. After creating a figure or randomizing the table, you can step through the animations or click play to watch the figures transform into smaller or larger objects. While playing the animation, there is a rate slider bar to increase or decrease the speed at which the figure transforms. Another feature is the ability to change the game mode from normal life or high life. Additionally, there are present osciallations and spaceships that can be loaded in to watch some of the most popular transformations.

More information about normal Game of Life and High Life.

My Game of Life on GitHub or Java download.

Autokey Solver

In cryptology, there are many different ciphers. One cipher that interested me the most was the Autokey Cipher. The Autokey Cipher is a polyalphabetic substitution cipher. This cipher can extend by plain text, meaning given the primer and plaintext, place the primer at the beginning of the plaintext. This new string will become your key. Another feature is the ability to extend by ciphertext. While you are encrypting the plaintext using the key, the ciphertext will be appended to the key to allow the continuation of encryption.

More information about Autokey Cipher.

My Autokey Cipher code on GitHub or website implementation.

Book Database Website

This project was for one of my senior-level computer science classes. It was a team of 6 that implemented a book database website to display, review, or explore different genres of books. Throughout the project, I learned an extensive amount of PHP and SQL to authenticate user accounts within the database and allowing them to have access to the essential features of the website.

MLB Data Analysis

This is a side project that I have been slowly working on outside of school and work. I am an avid sports fan especially with Major League Baseball and College Basketball. In the Python web application I am retrieving data from a library called pybaseball. At the moment the app displays the current standings of every team in the 2019 season. Besides, I have created an automatically formatting web page to display the standings of every team dating back to 1871. Looking ahead, I intend to display different graphs of certain stats to have side-by-side comparisons for different divisions, teams, and players.

Project code on GitHub

EDUCATION & SKILLS

Northern Kentucky University

I attended Northern Kentucky University to obtain my Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.

Graduated in: May 2020

University of Cincinnati

I attended the University of Cincinnati to obtain my Master of Engineering in Computer Science.

Graduated in: December 2021

Technical Skills
JAVA
HTML/CSS
PHP
JAVASCRIPT
PYTHON
macOS
GIT
AUTOMATION