BSU Student Team Takes Second Place in Exclusive IBM Hackathon

MEDIA CONTACT: Damita Chambers, dchambers@bowiestate.edu, 301-832-2628 mobile

(BOWIE, Md.) – A team of six Bowie State University students, using technology to design a device to help the elderly stay safe in their homes, took second place in an exclusive IBM’s Blue Hackathon last month.

The students traveled to Atlanta for the Blue Hack, competing with teams of innovators to develop solutions to transform the technology industry and make society better. All the teams had to successfully complete a test before they were invited to compete.

Their idea centered on providing an alert system for relatives and friends of elderly individuals who are living alone. They developed sensors for water outlets that would send alerts in the event that there were too much water flowing to one area at one point. This device could alert relatives of an overflowing bathtub, for example, which would put the person in danger.

The students won a trophy in the competition and gained so much more. They each had interviews with IBM and heard from technology experts about new innovations in the field.

All of the students on the team are members of Bowie State’s Forensic Information Technology Cyber Squad, led by Professor Lethia Jackson in the Department of Computer Science. The students are: senior computer science major Chevon Nwosu, senior computer science major Chadd Philp, senior computer technology major Alicia Miller, junior computer science major Nathan Nti, junior computer science major Harrison Razanajatovo and senior computer technology major Kahlil Vassell.

“Being exposed to IBM technologies and understanding more about where the industry is going will definitely prepare me for my future career,” said Nwosu.

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About Bowie State University
Bowie State University (BSU) is an important higher education access portal for qualified persons from diverse academic and socioeconomic backgrounds, seeking a high-quality and affordable public comprehensive university. The university places special emphasis on the science, technology, cybersecurity, teacher education, business, and nursing disciplines within the context of a liberal arts education. For more information about BSU, visit www.bowiestate.edu.