Jacob Shaul

Jacob is the founder of Mode to Code, an organization that provides free coding and technology education to students and seniors across generations and around the world.

When Jacob took an after-school coding class in sixth grade, something unexpected happened: he gained an instant sense of control. Animated forms appeared and disappeared at his command. By his sophomore year, Jacob knew he wanted to share that feeling with others—and Mode to Code was born.

The program pairs trained high school volunteer instructors with middle schoolers in under-resourced communities and seniors in assisted living facilities, delivering a hands-on curriculum in coding and digital literacy for free. He also organized his high school’s first-ever hackathon, bringing together more than 60 students from 14 Bay Area high schools to build AI applications in education.

Mode to Code has reached more than 1,500 students across 32 institutions in 10 countries.

True repair and improvement do not happen instantly. They are built through consistent, small actions. Each choice to show up contributes to a world that is more fair, inclusive, and united.

Two people sit at a wooden table talking as one holds a phone and a laptop with stickers rests between them.

Mode to Code

A nonprofit that provides free coding and technology education to middle school students and seniors, closing the digital divide across generations and around the world.

Two people sit at a wooden table as one shows something on a smartphone to the other.

2026 Award Recipient

JacobShaul

True repair and improvement do not happen instantly. They are built through consistent, small actions. Each choice to show up contributes to a world that is more fair, inclusive, and united.

Jacob Shaul

Mode to Code