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2024 Nittany AI Challenge Results

MVP Phase Winners

Congratulations to the following teams, which have been awarded funding in the final phase of the 2024 Nittany AI Challenge.

Read about the Winners

AdvIsor team members pose with their winning check.

$5,000 Winner: AdvIsor

AdvIsor offers an always-available AI–powered dynamic and personalized assistance to help undergraduate students complete their degrees on time, minimizing education expenses and shortening the time needed to complete a degree. Students input their interests and passions and AdVIsor creates tailored recommendations for classes to take. AdvIsor facilitates multilingual support, ensuring equitable access to students who are not fluent in English.

Team Members:

  • Krishna Pagrut, College of Engineering
  • Veer Shah, College of Engineering
  • Vishnu Venugopal, College of Engineering
bioWatch team members pose with their winning check.

$5,000 Winner: bioWatch

bioWatch is an AI and computer vision solution for tracking invasive insect species that are negatively impacting ecosystems in the United States. bioWatch facilitates real-time tracking of species distribution across a region, enabling quick action to manage outbreaks. Large Language model (LLM)–powered chatbots provide tailored decision-making support to users.

Team Members:

  • Kyle Ketterer, College of Engineering
  • Benjamin Oleynik, College of Engineering
  • Kittiphum Pawikhum, College of Agricultural Sciences and College of Engineering
  • Ldu Ren, College of Engineering
  • Matthew Walter, College of Engineering
  • Yanqiu Yang, College of Agricultural Sciences and College of Engineering
Kinderverse team members pose with their winning check.

$2,000 Winner: Kinderverse

Kinderverse revolutionizes children’s interaction with screen-based content by turning passive screen time into enriching learning adventures. Utilizing AI, Kinderverse generates interactive and adaptive stories that immerse children aged four to six years old in learning. The technology adds a layer of engagement and makes learning a natural part of screen time.

Team Members:

  • Alex Floor, College of Engineering
  • Ethan Flynn, College of Engineering
  • Ashad Hanaf, College of Engineering
  • Suraj Kumar, College of Engineering
  • Bianca Puglin, College of Engineering
  • Aneesh Singh, College of Engineering
  • Daniel Woodford, College of Information Sciences and Technology
TasteMate team members pose with their winning check.

$2,000 Winner: TasteMate

TasteMate uses AI to provide personalized meals that fit individual dietary preferences and health needs. TasteMate generates meal recipes based on the data users provide about their diet, health concerns, medications they are taking, and preferred cuisines.

Team members:

  • Amin Justin Armet, College of Engineering
  • Riley Costello, College of Engineering
  • Dylan Micheal Klass, College of Engineering
  • Alex Henri Piechucki, College of Information Sciences and Technology
  • Aaron Thomas Polansky, College of Engineering
  • Scott Charles Theriot, College of Engineering


CARL team members pose with their winning check.

$2,000 Winner: CARL

CARL is an AI teaching assistant designed to foster dynamic interactions between students and teachers, offering tailored support for action learning strategies. CARL enhances classroom engagement through personalized learning and promotes critical thinking.

Team Members:

  • Timothy Birmingham, College of Engineering, Penn State World Campus
  • Sunghee Choi, College of Engineering, Penn State World Campus
  • Jared Daniel, College of Engineering, Penn State World Campus
  • Andrew Klawa, College of Engineering, Penn State World Campus
  • Neha Pandit, College of Engineering, Penn State World Campus
Project Green Thumb team members pose with their winning check.

$1,000 Winner of the Vishwamitra AI Geography Award Funded by the GeoEd Foundation: Project Green Thumb

Project Green Thumb’s mission is to help homeowners and landscapers restore biodiversity to their landscapes by increasing the use of native plant species and decreasing the use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers. Through AI chatbot technology, Project Green Thumb provides personalized, user-friendly recommendations for planting and maintaining non-invasive plants that create thriving eco-friendly landscapes. The technology enables users to learn about the value of native plants and the important ecosystems they create.

Team Members:

  • Frank Barbano, Landscape Architect and Horticulturalist
  • Nathan A. Leo, College of Engineering
  • Raymond Yan, College of Agricultural Sciences and College of Engineering