Chris' Website
a personal autobiography
Welcome!
October 9, 2008
UF Takes Student IDs off Internet
University of Florida student ID numbers
were removed from the
university's online directory after I raised concerns. Not only
were the published ID numbers a violation of the
Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), but UF uses the ID number to verify
identity over the telephone when conducting business.
The Gainesville Sun picked up the story and includes what I think is simple solution to the breach:
"[Chris] Rakaczky suggested that UF could add another layer of protection by requiring a student-created pin number to be used in conjunction with the ID number."
Read more about the story here.
October 5, 2008
Front Row: UF vs. Ole Miss
I had the awesome opportunity to go to a UF home football game with a front row seat on September 27. I didn't win the student football ticket lottery, so getting a front row sea—let alone going at all is amazing.
Although UF lost to Ole Miss by just one point (31-30), it all came down
to one play. I captured some pretty cool photos and videos, which
can be found on
PicasaWeb and
YouTube. GO GATORS!
June 10, 2008
Google Street View Invades Jupiter, FL
Google Street View has just updated its imagery in many areas, including most of Palm Beach County. The image pictured above is my home in Jupiter, Florida. In it you can see a worker preparing new doors for my house along with my vehicle parked on the driveway.
I noticed some abnormalities in the Street View around Jupiter, but after careful examination, the missing areas turned out to be gated communities. Gates didn't stop the Google 360 Car from entering into my friend's gated community, however.
Thanks Google for broadcasting my house to the whole world (I actually am amazed at Google's feat to gather a digital collection of the world), even though the road is technically private I won't sue like this Pennsylvania couple did.
May 23, 2008
Pat Oliphant Memorial Student Technology Service Scholarship Recognition
On May, 21, 2008, I was recognized for the scholarship at the Palm Beach County School District Board Meeting during the opening presentation. It was televised live on the District's television channel, The Education Network ("TEN"), and can be viewed below.
There, I received my commemorative plaque and scholarship check. The event finalizes my educational career in the School District of Palm Beach County as I transition from Jupiter Community High School to the University of Florida this summer.
View videos and pictures of the Board Meeting.
May 23, 2008
Jupiter High School Graduation
May 20, 2008 marks the day I become a Jupiter High graduate. My thirteen years throughout Jupiter's schools has ceased with a magnificent end. I had an awesome time at Jupiter High and experienced events that have created memories lasting for the rest of my live. Watch part of the graduation ceremony below.
View videos and pictures of my graduation.
May 10, 2008
Fire, Food Fights and Floods at Jupiter High School: Seniors' Last Day Pranks?
Watch videos of the day's events here.
Well my last day as a high school senior began like any other day. It wasn't until around 11:20 that hell broke loose at Jupiter High School. I was collecting my graduation stuff and yearbook and heading to my car to store it until after school. On my way out, the fire alarm sounded and I just laughed thinking someone pulled it as a senior prank. Oh how wrong I was.
It wasn't until I got back from my car but to walk into the main office where the fire alarm control panel sits that I got the full story. (I have this all on camera.) I hear administration screaming "live fire" constantly to each other. One asks "Should I call the fire department?" Someone grabs the red emergency telephone and calls the police and fire department.
This all was occurring during the examination of AP US History...but the alarm went off with just 5 minutes or so left, according to students taking it. (I wasn't taking it). Test takers said that proctors instructed them to stay inside the testing area despite the fire alarm, thinking it was false. Once they realized it was a live fire, they were still instructed to stay until tests were collected, even with two minutes left, according to the test takers I spoke with.
The whole school, meanwhile, was basically outside in the parking lot waiting for instruction. Because it went off at a time just before lunch, the majority of the students were not in class at the time, so organization was a mess.
Eventually, the fire is isolated to one section of the school where a sprinkler system extinguished it. A pipe burst in the maintenance room adjacent to where the fire originated resulting in two floods in the band hallway. We were allowed back into the courtyard/common area but instructed to stay away from the area where the fire had occurred. By this time, fire trucks and police were on scene.
I went and got food inside the cafeteria, but it seemed weird...there were no administrators watching the cafeteria. They were all too busy tending to the fire and crowd control outside. You know what that means when there is no one watching a cafeteria full of high school students…a food fight. The first lunch (Lunch A) immediately erupted into a food fight, later resulting in my AP Calculus teacher (Mr. Smith) charging in as if he were on fire to control things. Things did eventually calm down, but my Calculus teacher (whose classroom locks were glued inside the keyways, leaving the door permanently locked) (Mr. Smith) made sure by climbing on top of a table and shouting at the top of his lungs for everyone to, “SIT DOWN AND EAT OR GET OUT!”
I later finished my food and went on to my fifth hour class. There things almost seemed normal, but because my first lunch was interrupted, I opted to go to Lunch B (the second lunch). Now, a cafeteria full of administrators, things should be okay, Right? Wrong! About 10 minutes into the lunch, a MASSIVE, I mean MASSIVE food fight broke out involving throwing of condiments, corn, plates, cookies, anything that someone could grab and throw was picked up and thrown across the room. For a period of 40 seconds or so, the whole cafeteria was filled with food flying through the air.
Administrators at this point were overpowered and required the assistance of the police department.
I heard them shouting over their radio equipment for the main office to call the Jupiter police department and have immediate backup and assistance. (Jupiter High School is located adjacent to the police department, so response time was almost instant).
Starving, everyone was forced out of the cafeteria and told to go to their sixth hour class (even though fifth hour was still in session). Police could be seen every 40 feet or so instructing people to go to class and just to keep crowd control. I witnessed police from Beach Patrol and K9 departments.
It is also interesting to note that the cafeteria riots and disruptions affected the AP European History examination too and the constant announcements over the school-wide intercom system probably also annoyed test takers.
Finally, as both lunches ended and 6th hour was officially in session, things calmed down, but administration was very upset and on an elevated security status. The alarm went off later during the day due to a maintenance test.
I have photos & videos of the day’s events uploaded on the Internet as I write this entry.
I hope the test administrations don’t get canceled due to this severe
problem that happened.
March 28, 2008
Pat Oliphant Memorial Student Technology Service Scholarship Winner
The
School District of Palm Beach County created the Pat Oliphant
Memorial Student Technology Service Scholarships to recognize and
reward outstanding high school seniors in the area of technology.
As a third place winner, I will receive a scholarship funded through proceeds generated by the District's annual technology conference. I was also invited as a VIP to attend the PBCSD's 10th anniversary technology conference, Now and Then: "A Decade of Change" today.
I would like to thank the teachers, staff, and administrators who have always supported me through my educational careers at Jerry Thomas Elementary School, Independence Middle School, and Jupiter High School.
Note: When the District has its annual School Board meeting on May 21, 2008 more information and photos will be available.
March 28, 2008
Pathfinders of Palm Beach/Martin County Scholarship Finalist
The
Pathfinder High School Scholarship Awards are presented each year to
high school seniors in Palm Beach and Martin counties.
As a finalist in the field of Computer Science, I have demonstrated achievement in this category throughout high school. Scholarship winners will be awarded at the Kravis Center on April 28, 2008 at the Raymond F. Kravis Center in West Palm Beach.
More information about the Pathfinder scholarship can be found at the sponsor's web site.
Note: When the ceremony concludes on April 28, 2008 more information will be available.
November 23, 2007
C0M4UT3|2 G3N1U5: Chris Rakaczky
"Many
students and staff have seen this young man rushing around the school
with a purpose. He is Christopher Alan Rakaczky and he is Jupiter High
School’s computer genius. With more than ten years of computer
experience under his belt, Jupiter High is lucky to have someone with as
much technological talent."
Read more full story...
October 28, 2007
For my AP Calculus AB class I had to produce a related rates video with some of my classmates. Originally it was supposed to be a simple math-only video; but the plot, developed by our intuitive minds, evolved into a masterpiece. Enjoy the film!
"Watch as Officer Lencki and Officer Rakaczky recover stolen AP Calculus materials."
September 7, 2007
I am a Jupiter, Florida local and have lived in the booming town for over ten years. Currently enrolled at Jupiter Community Senior High School as a senior, I have been well ahead of preparing for my post-secondary educational endeavors by challenging myself with the toughest classes available at my school.
Read more about me...
