West Georgia Technical College (WGTC) and Southwire’s IT Department collaborated to host the first-ever “Computer Science Innovators Challenge” at WGTC’s Carroll campus. The event aimed to foster creativity and innovation among participants of all skill levels, challenging them to develop unique projects within a limited time frame while addressing unfamiliar concepts. According to Tara Shackleford, CIST Program Chair at WGTC, students showcased their abilities and problem-solving skills to impress potential employers like Southwire, opening doors for internships and future career prospects.
Three teams presented their projects at the event, with each team receiving Visa gift cards ranging from $50 to $150. The winning project was “Know Your Power,” developed by Glenn Freeman, Kristy Bishop, and Christian Putman, which created a power consumption calculator in natural language that could understand the power draw of appliances. The second-place project was “Streamline, Simplify, Scale (Waybridge SAP/ER)” by John Paschal and Taylor Lowery, which aimed to automate the scaling process for transportation and direct trucks and trailers while emphasizing security aspects. The third-place project was “The Future of City Exploration,” developed by Robert Galan and Kevin Keeler, a traveling tool that utilized AI to guide users during travel while providing historical data and fun facts.
For more information on WGTC’s Computer Information Systems (CIST) programs or any other program offered at WGTC, individuals can contact Tara Shackleford at tara.shackleford@westgatech.edu or visit www.westgatech.edu