TAMU-CC Students Earn Second Place at AI Hackathon with Innovative Water Management Solution

Three Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi computer science students earned second place at the From the Ground Up AI Hackathon in Pleasanton, California, where they presented an artificial intelligence (AI) application designed to support rainfall analysis and drought management. The competition challenged students to develop innovative solutions addressing environmental issues using emerging technologies. 

The team consisted of Mohammed Asad Khan ’27, Noah Wilborn ’27, and Misha Stegall ’27, all senior computer science students studying cybersecurity. The competition focused on the theme of “AI for Good,” encouraging participants to develop solutions addressing challenges involving water resources, land stewardship, agriculture, and wildfire management. 

With approximately two weeks to prepare, the team developed BASIN, a rainfall analysis and drought management simulator designed to help water resource professionals analyze environmental conditions using updated, publicly available data. The application aims to streamline processes that traditionally require extensive manual calculations and data analysis. Although initially designed for Corpus Christi and surrounding communities, BASIN was developed to be adaptable to other regions with available rainfall observation data. 

After advancing to the finals, the students traveled to Zoho's U.S. headquarters in California, where they presented their project to industry professionals and competition judges. Working with Zoho mentor throughout the development process, the team gained valuable insight into professional expectations and the development of  practical technology solutions. Their final presentation included a technical overview and live demonstration of the application, allowing judges to evaluate its functionality and potential real-world applications. 

Despite their cybersecurity backgrounds, the students applied their technical knowledge to environmental challenges while learning new concepts throughout the development process. Khan explained that one of the most rewarding aspects of the competition was creating something that could benefit their community rather than completing a traditional classroom assignment. The experience also strengthened the team's confidence in communicating technical ideas, collaborating under pressure, and interacting with industry professionals. 

Reflecting on the experience, Khan encouraged students from all academic backgrounds to participate in similar opportunities. 

“It doesn’t matter what major you are,” Khan said. “It really just lets you innovate and it's kind of like a creative outlet, but for solving problems.” 

Through their second-place finish, Khan, Wilborn, and Stegall demonstrated how student-driven innovation can contribute to solving real-world challenges. Their experience highlights the opportunities available to TAMU-CC students to apply classroom knowledge, develop professional skills, and explore the growing role of artificial intelligence in addressing community needs.