After an eventful week marking its 159th anniversary, highlighted by the inauguration of its 13th president, Dr. F. DuBois Bowman ’92, Morehouse College concluded the celebration by hosting its first inaugural President’s Hackathon. The three-day innovation experience convened more than 100 students from across all academic disciplines for an immersive challenge centered on generative artificial intelligence and entrepreneurial design thinking. Working in collaborative teams, students developed AI-powered concepts and prototypes aimed at addressing real-world societal challenges across education, healthcare, sustainability, accessibility, and economic opportunity.
Held in partnership with ACT House and supported by members of the Atlanta tech community, the President’s Hackathon reflected the College’s enduring commitment to cultivating principled leaders prepared to harness emerging technologies in service of equity and global impact. Throughout the 36-hour experience, students engaged in intensive problem-solving sessions, mentorship conversations, and iterative design processes, culminating in final pitches that demonstrated both technical creativity and a deep sense of social responsibility. Teams competed for cash prizes totaling up to $10,000, along with startup incubation support and industry-aligned mentorship to help advance their ideas beyond the weekend.
1st Place Team: GD Academy
GD Academy is a mobile-first learning platform that democratizes game development for underserved youth who lack access to expensive PC hardware. The app provides structured pathways for artists and programmers, complemented by an AI mentor to help bridge learning gaps.-
- Key Advantage: Allows students to build a shareable portfolio and learn professional code mechanics entirely on a smartphone.
- Market Focus: Underserved teens and young adults (ages 14–24) looking to enter the gaming industry.
- Business Model: A tiered subscription plan starting at $0 (Lite), with premium Creator+ and Pro tiers for advanced tools.
Team Members:
Amari Coleman '28
Elijah Flores '27
KeiShaun Mortis '27
Kyree Lovelace '28
Michael Moore '27
2nd Place Team: Mediscribe
MediScribe is an AI-powered clinical documentation tool designed to eliminate "pajama time:" the hours clinicians spend charting after work. The platform uses ambient capture to record clinical conversations and automatically generate structured SOAP notes with personalized treatment recommendations.-
- Key Advantage: A "glass box" system that links every AI-generated line to specific evidence in the patient’s record.
- Market Focus: Targeting independent practitioners and large systems like Emory Healthcare.
- Business Model: SaaS pricing ranging from $129 for soloists to $725 for enterprise seats.
Team Members:
Chace Cleveland '27
Theodore Hervey '29
Jonari Chevalier '29
Nii Nai Odamtten Sowah '26
Amir Faulkner '27
3rd Place Team: CarePath
CarePath is an AI-powered care coordination platform built to streamline mental health and developmental support within school districts. It addresses the fragmented nature of student support by providing counselors with automated roadmaps and matching students with relevant government and research resources.-
- Key Advantage: Converts complex IEPs and medical files into plain-language summaries for parents.
- Market Focus: Public school districts, specifically targeting the Metro Atlanta area with a projected $14.1M SOM.
- Business Model: A district-scaled model where schools pay $25 per enrolled student.
Team Members:
Ahmed Kiel-Kamil '26
Aren Egwuekwe '26
Supreme Constantine '26
Isaiah Johnson '26
The competition unfolded across three thematic areas that guided participants’ work: personal good and empowerment, entrepreneurship and workforce innovation, and broader societal impact and equity. Across these themes, students presented solutions designed to enhance learning, wellness, and personal agency; support small businesses and workforce readiness through AI-driven tools; and promote fairness, access, sustainability, and wealth creation within communities and systems.
The event was led by campus and consortium leaders at the forefront of innovation and entrepreneurship, including Dr. Juana Mendenhall, Vice Provost for Academic Innovation and Learning; Dr. Grant Warner, Executive Director of the Center for Black Entrepreneurship; and Dr. Alfred Watkins, Interim Director of the AUC Data Science Institute. Their leadership, alongside guidance from faculty, entrepreneurs, and industry mentors, helped shape an environment that challenged students to think expansively about the role of artificial intelligence in advancing the public good.
Hosted at the Massey Executive Conference Center on the Morehouse College campus, the hackathon concluded with final team presentations, the announcement of winning projects, and a celebration dinner that recognized the creativity, discipline, and collaborative spirit displayed throughout the weekend. As Morehouse reflected on its historic legacy, the inaugural President’s Hackathon stood as a forward-looking capstone to the anniversary week by preparing future leaders to use innovation and technology not simply to build products, but to build a more just and equitable world.