AAMU Students Rank in BE Smart Hackathon 2022
'Rewarding' Experience
Two Alabama A&M University teams placed at the BE Smart Hackathon hosted by Black Enterprise in Dallas, Texas, October 6-9. Out of 19 schools and 23 teams, AAMU's two student teams made it to the Top 5 for a final pitch and product demonstration, which eventually landed them as 2nd and 3rd place winners.
Judges deemed their solutions worthy to be implemented by American Airlines (the main sponsor for the Hackathon, along with Hyatt Hotels).
"I am extremely proud of them because they collaborated and worked for 24 hours to produce working solutions for American Airlines," commented Terry Miller, a faculty advisor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
Below are the problem statements, teams/photos, student names, classifications and team's winning status.
Binary Beasts - 2nd Place
The challenge was to provide a solution that answered “How might we drive a large volume of our non-AAdvantage member customers to effortlessly enroll in the program during their customer journey without causing any friction in the operation?” The team solution pitched was “Buddy Advantage,” a loyalty rewards program that provides current rewards members with incentives, such as seat upgrades, additional miles and free checked bags, for signing up new members (a buddy).
Asa Rogers, Computer Science, Junior, Oklahoma City, Okla.
DaQuandalon Daniel, Computer Science, Sophomore, Gadsden, Ala.
DeTavein Walker, Computer Science, Sophomore, Huntsville, Ala.
Eyerusalem Girma, Computer Science, Sophomore, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Lyric Sampson, Computer Science, Sophomore, Havre de Grace, Md.
“It was an experience that allowed us to grow individually and as a team. It also allowed us to obtain knowledge from experienced programmers who offered assistance during the competition," DaQuandalon Daniel, a sophomore computer science major from Gadsden, Ala. "In the presence of pressure, we relied on our trust in each other to get the job done and, while there were definitely some trials and tribulations, it paid off in the end. Today, we are a stronger team, and it is all thanks to Black Enterprise and American Airlines for hosting the BeSmart Hackathon.”
Team Tai - 3rd Place
The challenge was to provide a solution that answered “How might we drive a large volume of our non-AAdvantage member customers to effortlessly enroll in the program during their customer journey without causing any friction in the operation?” Their solution was “RewAArds,” which encourages non-AAdvantage members to join the rewards program, allowing them to use earned miles for in flight purchases/entertainment, flight upgrades and airport dining.
Opeyeoluwa Olanipekun, Electrical Engineering, Sophomore, Ibadan, Nigeria
Olasubomi Olawepo, Computer Science, Junior, Lagos, Nigeria
Shemaiah Mbetwa, Electrical Engineering, Sophomore, Kitwe, Zambia
Mphande Phiri, Electrical Engineering, Senior, Mufulira, Zambia
Prosper Banda, Computer Science, Sophomore, Gweru, Zimbabwe
“The BE Smart Hackathon was one for the books, an experience filled with so many learning experiences," said Olasubomi Olawepo, a junior computer science major from Lagos, Nigeria. "As an individual, I made a lot of connections and had the opportunity to flex my leadership and collaboration skills. We collaborated effectively to get the job done and deliver an excellent pitch as a team.”