Danelle Landgraf

Danelle Landgraf became the Department Head of Technology and Engineering at Mid-Pacific in 2020 with a mission to grow student participation and programs. Under her leadership, student engagement has soared with technology-related after-school clubs now involving 20 percent of the high school student body, up from only 10 students initially.

In 2020, Danelle’s CyberOwls club began with 10 passionate students competing in national competitions like CyberStart America and CyberPatriot. The club quickly grew to 30 members and consistently fills up each year. In 2024, the CyberOwls won first place in Hawai‘i’s High School Gold Division and Middle School Division.

Danelle’s initiatives expanded further in 2021 with the introduction of esports, which grew from 35 to 65 participants by 2024, earning three consecutive Overwatch2 Championships. Her creation of the GameStudio club in 2022 attracted 30 students, resulting in the publication of four student-created games on app stores. Recognizing student interest in artificial intelligence, she launched the Owlgorithms Data Science Club in 2024, drawing 25 members to explore AI and machine learning.

Danelle also transformed the Computer Science curriculum. Starting with 30 students in her first year, enrollment doubled the next year and grew to 90 students by the third year. Her vision secured significant investment in advanced technology for students, including new PCs and laptops, fostering a thriving, cyber-friendly culture at Mid-Pacific.

“My goal has always been to create opportunities where students feel empowered to explore, innovate, and succeed in technology,” says Landgraf. “Watching their passion translate into real-world achievements, from competitions to game development, has been incredibly rewarding. It’s about building a future where they can thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world.”

Photo caption: Danelle Landgraf coaching Cyberowls student, Adrian M. ’27 through a Cyber Security challenge.