Adedunni Dayo-Kayode

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Adedunni Dayo-Kayode
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Rewriting the Code

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When Adedunni Dayo-Kayode was in high school, he thought he already had his future mapped out. He&). His independent research project focuses on AI ethics and global systems, while his participation in the Break Through Tech AI Program at Cornell Tech is helping him build experience in one of the fastest-growing industries in the world.

“As we’re building AI, I want to make sure it’s not recreating negative patterns by understanding technology within different political frameworks and how it impacts things like socioeconomic gaps and the biosphere. Are we acknowledging the fact that resources are finite? Yes, AI is great,” he said. “But how can we make sure that with the rise of AI, future generations around the globe will inherit a better system?”

For Adedunni, Oakton gave him the freedom to ask bigger questions and pursue ambitious ideas with support behind him.

Building Color Hacks

Adedunni’s drive to create opportunities for others led him to launch Color Hacks, a hackathon focused on creating access and community for underrepresented students in tech.

“I realized there was a disparity when it came to people of color within those programs,” he said. “I wanted people like me to be able to come together and get access to resources.”

He first launched Color Hacks virtually during the pandemic, then brought it to Oakton in collaboration with the Black Student Union. Later, he partnered with Northwestern University’s National Society of Black Engineers to host a larger cross-campus event supported by sponsors including Google and Major League Hacking.

“I wanted different people to show up and build that credential and learn that you don’t have to be a computer science major to attend a hackathon,” he said. “We had business majors there, psych majors, automotive majors. That for me was like, okay, people love this.”

Finding Community and Momentum

Adedunni credits much of his growth at Oakton to the people who encouraged him to get involved on campus. After connecting with Oakton’s B.L.A.C.K. Student Success Program, he quickly became involved with the Black Student Union, Student Government Association, Phi Theta Kappa and the Emory Williams Academy.

“I feel like as an ambitious person, I need to surround myself with other ambitious people,” he said. Along the way, he found mentors who challenged him, reassured him and pushed him to think bigger.

“Receiving feedback from people, and seeing how they responded to the goals that I want to achieve, gave me the validation and the push that I needed,” Adedunni said.

Going All In

That mindset shows up everywhere in Adedunni’s life. Last summer, he picked up tennis for the first time. Months later, he was competing on Oakton’s tennis team.

“I’m the type of person that if I’m doing something, I want to do it 100 percent,” he said. “I was out there literally every single day.”

Whether he’s researching AI ethics, organizing hackathons or learning a brand-new sport, Adedunni approaches every opportunity with the same intensity and curiosity.

“The best things in life come from the most unexpected things,” he said. “I didn’t expect to gain so much from Oakton, but I really lucked out here.”

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