Grainger Computing Innovation Prize Finals Winners Announced

November 12, 2024Posted in: University News

A group photo of the 2024 Grainger Prize participants and event organizers. The group consists of approximately 25 people standing on a staircase. Some individuals wear medals around their necks, while others hold certificates. The participants are dressed in business and formal attire, smiling at the camera. The background features a wall with a design of triangular elements in red, yellow, and orange. The staircase is framed by metal railings on each side.

Winners of the fourth annual Grainger Computing Innovation Prize were announced at the finals event held on Thursday, November 7, 2024.

First Place: VigilAI
Team Members: Utkarsh Nanda, Utsav Pathak, Brittany Shepherd
Project: Real-time crime prevention system integrating AI and computer vision, enhancing surveillance responsiveness by identifying critical events from video feeds.

Second Place: RiskWatch
Team Members: Sam Karson, Nathan Cook, Deimantas Gilys, Daniil Skvyrskyi
Project: Wearable fall detection device for seniors, utilizing accelerometer, gyroscope, and heart rate data to alert caregivers instantly. Analyzes fall patterns to help prevent future incidents.

Third Place: SmartTraffic AI
Team Members: Kaung Myat Naing, Nicholas Allison, Myat Minn Thiha
Project: Adaptive AI-based traffic management system that dynamically adjusts speed limits based on traffic, weather, and accident data, aiming to reduce congestion and accidents.

Audience Choice Award and Fourth Place (tie): AidTech Innovators
Team Members: Komal Suhas Naik, Apurva Sanjay Patil, Merlin Santano Simoes, Nujhat Alam Mredula
Project: A Generative AI platform for disaster relief, optimizing NGO coordination and resource deployment in real-time, minimizing redundancy for efficient, collaborative responses.

Fourth Place (tie) Tree of Life
Team Members: Kaya Jones, Shayan Baig
Project: AI-driven soil carbon sequestration tool recommending tree planting for carbon capture, utilizing soil and environmental data to tailor eco-friendly solutions globally.

Illinois Tech students are called to create inventive technology solutions to the challenges that society faces today through the Grainger Computing Innovation Prize, established by the College of Computing in 2021 and funded by a generous endowment from the Grainger Foundation. The aim of the competition is to build interdisciplinary teams of students to exhibit their computing skills in big data, artificial intelligence, and data science projects with the potential to positively impact society. Teams are encouraged to tackle projects in “Computing with Data and AI for Social Good” to address real-world problems in education, health, energy, public safety, transportation, economic development, sustainable smart infrastructure, climate change, and more. Entries must include an element of computing and demonstrate the potential impact of the work.

Special thanks to our judges:

  • Stacey Kacek — Managing Partner, Kacek Ventures; Illinois Tech Board of Trustees Member; Illinois Tech Board of Trustees Governance Committee Member
  • Jonny LeRoy — Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, W.W. Grainger, Inc.; Illinois Tech College of Computing Board of Advisors Member
  • Maryam Saleh — Executive Director of the Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship
  • Brian Walker – Senior Vice President and Chief Product Officer, W.W. Grainger, Inc.; Illinois Tech Board of Trustees Member; Illinois Tech Institute of Design Board of Advisors Member
  • Mark Wallace — Senior Vice President, Global Sales, Keysight Technologies; Illinois Tech Board of Trustees Member; Vice Chair, Armour College of Engineering Advisory Board

Thank you to the organizing committee:

  • Gurram Gopal — Professor, InformationTechnology and Management, Illinois Tech
  • Scott Pfeiffer ’95 — Director, CoC Operations, Illinois Tech
  • Robert Flores — Advancement Associate, Illinois Tech
  • Jeremy Hajek ’04 & ’07 — Industry Associate Professor, Information Technology and Management, Illinois Tech
  • Petra Kelly — Communications Director, Illinois Tech
  • Michael Lee — Associate Teaching Professor of Computer Science
  • Alexandra Lucio — Director, Principal Gifts and Campaign Initiatives, Illinois Tech
  • Matt Mayfield ’91 — Associate Dean, Academics and Administration, Institute of Design, Illinois Tech
  • Nik Rokop ’12 — Coleman Professor of Entrepreneurship, Stuart School of Business

Thank you to the Grainger Foundation and Illinois Tech College of Computing for supporting this initiative!

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