Gates Scholarship recipient Gabe Solano presents capstone project: AutoEQ

Gabe Solano, a 2025 Gates Millennium Scholarship recipient, presented his senior capstone project—an automated volume-adjusting device called the “AutoEQ”—at the Science Leadership Academy’s engineering lab on Tuesday. 

With support from the Gates scholarship, Solano plans to study electrical engineering at the University of Pittsburgh this fall, alongside a minor in psychology or mathematics. He will be the first in his family to attend college. 

The Gates Scholarship, created by the Gates Foundation in 2017, a charitable arm started by IBM founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda, is a selective scholarship awarded to outstanding high school seniors from low-income households. 

Recipients receive funding to cover the full cost of college, including tuition, fees, books, housing and food not already covered by additional financial aid and may include additional personal costs.

Solano came up with the idea for the AutoEQ after students in class couldn’t hear loudspeaker announcements due to competing classroom sounds, such as educational videos or music. 

“I knew I wanted to do something involved with technology and wiring,” Solano said. “And I also knew that I wanted to improve classroom management in some way, while also making it safer.” 

Solano said his history teacher, Jason Todd, likes to show documentaries during class, and students have missed their names being called over the loudspeakers multiple times. This would result in the office calling the classroom, creating unnecessary disruptions. 

Solano’s goal was to create an automated solution to this problem—something never done before. 

The AutoEQ would increase and decrease the volume of whatever was playing in the classroom according to the natural ambience, student volume and any school-wide announcements.

While the project was never fully successful, Solano said he was very proud of the outcome regardless. His engineering teacher, John Kamal, agreed with that sentiment. 

Kamal said that, similar to many high-school students, Solano had little experience working with tools before stepping into an engineering lab. One of the first few days of the school year, Kamal organizes a “Hammer Day,” where many students may be holding a hammer for the first time, creating a lot of anxiety for both students and teachers. 

Despite his nerves, Solano took on the challenge headfirst. Kamal said Solano approached his capstone project in a similar way, by “jumping in the deep end.” 

“He knew what the problem was, but the solution was a complete black box for him, and he didn't know what that solution might entail,” Kamal said. 

Solano sought help from multiple sources to overcome challenges in his capstone project, including Kamal and his computer science teacher, Victor Hernandez, when he encountered complex technical problems related to digital signal processing, circuit design, and audio design.

Kamal said that while adjusting the volume of a speaker seems simple, it requires an understanding of complex concepts such as digital signal processing, circuit design and audio design. 

Beyond the engineering work, Solano faced several unexpected challenges, including time management, funding approval delays, and shipping issues.

“At times, I definitely found myself not as motivated to work on it,” Solano said. “Especially as a lot of things in my personal life started to get a bit rougher, or just as there were so many things going on—benchmarks, schoolwork—managing all of that was a huge load.”

Solano presents his device, the AutoEQ, in the engineering lab in front of his teacher and classmates. He presents the device's code and explains how it fuctions. (Credit: Kate Jackson)

When asked what he would say to other seniors who have similar challenges with their capstones, Solano recommended that fellow students focus on what they gained from the project, not what doesn't work. 

Outside of engineering, Solano has taken on other leadership roles. He serves as captain of the SLA ultimate frisbee team and is treasurer of the school’s Students of Color Association. Solano said these roles helped him understand the importance of community. 

Solano said the ultimate frisbee field has become a “place of peace” for him. Before high school, Solano said he was more socially introverted, but playing as part of a team gave him self-confidence.

Through his work with the Students of Color Association, Solano said he found meaning in celebrating identity and creating space for underrepresented cultures.

“I loved being able to do something for the school and for the community that brought more cultures and identities to light,” he said. 

After receiving the 2025 Gates Millennium Scholarship in April, Solano said he realized he’d be able to continue exploring these interests in college. He said he would continue working on a successful prototype of the AutoEQ through the engineering program at Pitt. 

“Knowing that I could pursue higher education and focus on learning, without also worrying about how to pay for it, was a huge honor,” Solano said.

Chris Lahmann, Solano's principal and the founder of LSA, said he felt Solano was deserving of the award. Lahmann received the news on a FaceTime call with Solano, in the evening while his family was eating dinner. 

“The really cool thing about Gabe is as smart and talented as he is, and he's exceptionally smart and exceptionally talented,” Lahmann said. “That is matched or exceeded by his kindness and his sense of morality and just being a good person in the world.” 

Kamal echoed this sentiment, saying that beyond Solano’s academic success and career achievements, what he most hopes is that Solano remains the kind, caring, and thoughtful person he is today as he grows into adulthood.

He also emphasized how rare and significant earning a Gates Scholarship is for students in the Philadelphia School District. Kamal assisted Solano throughout the application process, including writing a recommendation letter.

“The day that he came in beaming. I was just so crazy proud of him,” Kamal said.

The Gates Scholarship does more than cover four years of college; it can also support graduate studies, opening doors for students like Solano who come from families without privilege and face challenges common in Philadelphia schools.

As a first-generation college student, Solano said his biggest inspirations have been his mother and grandfather.

“They’ve both sacrificed so much to help me get to where I am today,” he said. “I’ve worked day and night, and knowing that I'll be able to continue my education without them having to worry about helping pay for it at all—it's an amazing feeling.”