// hello, world

Grayson
Penland

scroll
// 01 — about

Building things
that matter

I'm a CS student at Georgia Institute of Technology, studying the foundations that make great software possible — algorithms, data structures, discrete math. I'm drawn to problems where efficiency and elegance intersect.

Before Georgia Tech, I was in the field: diagnosing hardware failures, migrating production websites, and debugging networks for local businesses. That hands-on background shapes how I write code — I think about systems, not just syntax.

I also spent 2021 hosting a Linux and open-source podcast for the Fedora Project — interviewing kernel developers, managing production pipelines, and negotiating a network partnership. It taught me that communication is as technical a skill as any algorithm.

Outside of tech, I'm a lifeguard and swim instructor at Georgia Tech and Tallulah Falls School. There's a clarity in that work — responsibility, calm under pressure, and the satisfaction of teaching a kid to swim.

50+
PCs built & serviced
10K+
Podcast downloads in 8 months
4K
Monthly web views achieved
200
Pages migrated & SEO'd
// 02 — experience

Where I've worked

June 2025 — Present
BS Computer Science
Georgia Institute of Technology · Atlanta, GA
  • Relevant coursework: Object-Oriented Programming, Data Structures & Algorithms, Discrete Math
  • Expected graduation Fall 2028
June 2023 — January 2025
IT Field Technician & Web Developer
Siervocomp Computer Repairs and IT Solutions · Toccoa, GA
  • Delivered on-site technical support for local businesses; operated autonomously without supervision
  • Wrote SOPs and user guides that measurably reduced repeat support tickets
  • Migrated and SEO-optimized a 200-page website, achieving 4,000+ average monthly views
  • Built and serviced 50+ PCs; diagnosed hardware, OS, and network issues from first principles
June 2023 — Present
Lifeguard & Swim Instructor
Georgia Tech / Tallulah Falls School · Atlanta, GA & Tallulah Falls, GA
  • Maintained pool safety and prevented injuries across dual locations simultaneously
  • Taught structured swim lessons to children aged 5–11
// 03 — projects

Things I've built

🗺️
Graphs & City Infrastructure Engine
Java · CS1332 @ Georgia Tech · April 2026
Built an undirected weighted graph on an adjacency-list HashMap with a union-find disjoint set (path compression + union-by-rank) for O(1) component queries. Implemented BFS, DFS, Dijkstra's, Prim's, and Kruskal's from scratch, composing them into a city-services API for shortest-path routing, MST-based wire consolidation, and power-station siting within O(|R| log |R|) bounds. Designed a modified Dijkstra's variant that lexicographically minimizes (restricted-intersection count, total duration) for truck routing.
Java Graph Theory Dijkstra's MST Union-Find BFS/DFS
🎙️
Fedora Project Podcast
Open Source · Volunteer Host & Producer · Jan–Dec 2021
Hosted and produced a podcast for the Fedora Project, interviewing developers and contributors on Linux internals, operating systems, and open-source ecosystems. Managed the full production pipeline — scheduling, recording, editing, publishing — and achieved 10,000+ downloads in under 8 months. Negotiated a partnership with a podcast network to expand reach and ensure long-term sustainability.
Linux Open Source Git Audio Production Fedora
🌐
200-Page SEO Migration
Web Dev & SEO · Siervocomp · 2023–2024
Planned and executed a full host migration and SEO overhaul for a 200-page business website — handling redirects, meta restructuring, performance tuning, and post-launch monitoring. Drove average monthly views from near-zero to 4,000+, directly impacting client revenue and discoverability.
SEO HTML/CSS PHP Web Performance Analytics
// 04 — skills

What I work with

Languages

JavaAdvanced
HTML / CSSAdvanced
PythonProficient
BashProficient
SQL / PHPFamiliar

Developer Tools

GitAdvanced
LinuxAdvanced
DockerProficient
AnsibleFamiliar

IT & Systems

Hardware DiagnosticsExpert
System TroubleshootingAdvanced
NetworkingProficient
Technical DocumentationProficient
// 05 — contact

Let's connect

Open to internships, collaborations, or just a good conversation about systems, algorithms, or open source. Drop me a line — I read everything.