school of computing instruction

Army Vet Guides Student Team in Delivering Digital Solution for Military Operations

dgivens8 — Tue, 20 May 2025 18:04:40 +0000

Army Vet Guides Student Team in Delivering Digital Solution for Military Operations dgivens8 Tue, 05/20/2025 - 14:04

A team of Computing students has developed a digital intake system for the U.S. Army, which is set to be implemented as early as next month, transforming a time-consuming, paper-based process into an efficient, modern platform.

The project was part of Computer Science Junior Design Capstone Expo, where students collaborate in teams to build functional software solutions for real-world clients. For team members Jonathan Collins, Joel Cave, Srithan Nalluri, Mark Podrazhansky, and Caden Virant, that client was the U.S. Army. School of Computing Instruction Lecturer Aibek Musaev led their Junior Design section.

“The Army spends a significant amount of time maintaining, documenting, and repairing equipment that allows them to complete their mission,” said Collins, a U.S. Army veteran. “Our system essentially took the current maintenance process and converted it from an entirely paper-based process to a completely digital one.”

The team built a streamlined web application utilizing a set of modern tools that enhance data management, create a user-friendly interface, and ensure seamless operations. The new system improves accountability and visibility across Army maintenance operations by digitizing the intake and tracking processes. It eliminates the risk of lost paperwork and makes it easier for personnel to stay updated on equipment status and repair needs.

2nd Lt. Noah Parsons, the Army’s point of contact for the project, was impressed with both the product and the team’s professionalism.

“Georgia Tech students have completed the intake system to perfection,” Parsons said. “They performed exceptionally and professionally. I cannot stress how great of a job they have done for their class and for the Army as well. Our company intends to start using the intake system as early as next month.”

For Collins, who served four years in the Army before enrolling at Georgia Tech, the experience was meaningful.

“A large part of my role in the Army involved the very maintenance processes we’ve been working to improve,” he said. “I can’t even count how many hours my coworkers and I spent with the current system. Now, being able to use this new chapter of my life to make meaningful improvements feels incredibly rewarding.”

Collins also took the lead in communicating with the military client, helping the team navigate strict requirements and non-negotiable specifications.

With this system, the Army decided what they wanted, and the team was tasked with delivering exactly that with no variation.

The project taught the team critical lessons about ownership, communication, and collaboration under pressure.

“Communication with the client is the absolute most important thing,” Collins said. “You could have the best programmers in the world, but it won’t matter if you can’t deliver the product the client wants. Meeting often and getting consistent feedback was key.”

The Army plans to begin using the system as early as June, bringing the students’ work full circle and marking a meaningful contribution to real-world military operations.

Summary sentence

Summary

Dateline

Tue, 05/20/2025 - 12:00

emily.smith@cc.gatech.edu

Associated importer

Keywords

College of Computing

school of computing instruction

military

Military Technology

CS Junior Design Capstone

cs junior design capstone expo

army

go-researchnews

Categories

Military Technology

Student and Faculty

Student Honors and Achievements

Mercury ID

682471

Source updated

Tue, 05/20/2025 - 14:04

Computing Student Secures Y Combinator Funding for LLM Developer Tool

dgivens8 — Thu, 15 May 2025 13:57:39 +0000

Computing Student Secures Y Combinator Funding for LLM Developer Tool dgivens8 Thu, 05/15/2025 - 09:57

Ayush Karupakula, a second-year computer science student (CS), has secured $500,000 in pre-seed funding from Y Combinator (YC) for Tropir, a startup that helps developers trace and debug failures in large language model (LLM) pipelines.

YC is a prestigious startup accelerator known for launching companies like Airbnb, DoorDash, Stripe, and Reddit, and Karupakula’s acceptance into its Winter 2025 batch places him among the next generation of tech founders.

The Road to Y Combinator

Winning a spot in YC is no small feat. The selection process is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of around 1%. Participation requires a compelling vision, a strong team, and proof of concept that demonstrates potential. For this student and his co-founder Aarush Kukreja (Princeton University), the journey began in late 2024 with an ambitious idea and a scrappy demo.

“The interview was a 10-minute rapid-fire session with YC partners. They grilled us on our prototype, market fit, and drive,” Karupakula said. “We didn’t have everything figured out, but they loved our energy and our willingness to pivot fast.”

Pivoting from Sustainable Design to Developer Tools

Today, the team is building a developer tool that helps teams trace, debug, and improve complex LLM pipelines. It captures how inputs flow across chains of prompts, retrievals, and tool calls—without any code changes—and surfaces the root causes when outputs break. It also suggests better prompts, structural changes, and other ways to optimize pipeline performance.

Tropir initially aimed to help architecture and planning firms design energy-efficient buildings using AI-driven optimization. But after early user feedback revealed budget constraints and limited software adoption in that market, the team shifted focus.

The team’s ability to adapt quickly to demand is a skill Karupakula credits to his experience at Georgia Tech, where rigorous problem-solving and exposure to cutting-edge technology taught him to iterate fast and stay grounded in user needs.

Leveraging Georgia Tech’s Startup Ecosystem

For Karupakula, Georgia Tech also played a pivotal role in shaping his entrepreneurial mindset. The rigorous CS curriculum provided the technical skills to build innovative solutions, but it was the startup ecosystem that truly sparked his ambition.

“CREATE-X was a game-changer. Taking the Startup Lab class gave me hands-on experience, and attending project showcases opened my eyes to other undergrads’ wild ideas. It’s pure inspiration,” Karupakula said. “And the Grand Challenges Living Learning Community drilled into us the value of stakeholder interviews and rapid prototyping, habits I live by now.”

Hackathons like Hacklytics also helped fuel his passion, exposing him to fast-paced, high-impact projects that reinforced his problem-solving skills and entrepreneurial drive.

The YC Experience: Hustle, Innovation, and Growth

Since joining YC, the experience has been transformative. Relocating to San Francisco, the startup’s founders are now immersed in a high-energy environment where late-night coding sessions and continuous mentorship are the norm. With Garry Tan, YC’s President and CEO, as their designated general partner, they’ve gained insights to refine their approach.

“Being surrounded by founders pushing the boundaries of tech is electric,” Karupakula said. “The energy here is unreal; constant feedback, late-night sprints, and meeting users who get hyped about what we’re building.”

What’s Next?

With YC backing and a new direction, the team is moving fast. Their primary focus is testing their latest concept with users and preparing for a product launch by late spring 2025. The $500,000 in pre-seed funding is being used to expand outbound sales, support cloud infrastructure, and eventually hire engineers to accelerate development.

“YC’s network is the ideal launchpad,” Karupakula said. “Long-term, we’re committed to building something transformative.”

Advice for Aspiring Georgia Tech Entrepreneurs

For fellow students looking to break into the startup world, Karupakula’s advice is simple: “Go for it. Build a rough prototype and get it in front of users, even if it’s not perfect. Lean on CREATE-X for mentorship and connections - they’re gold. And don’t overthink the idea. Pivots are part of the journey. If a second-year undergrad like me can land in YC, you can too.”

Subtitle

Summary sentence

Ayush Karupakula, a second-year computer science student (CS), has secured $500,000 in pre-seed funding from Y Combinator (YC) for Tropir, a startup that helps developers trace and debug failures in large language model (LLM) pipelines.

Summary

Dateline

Thu, 05/15/2025 - 12:00

emily.smith@cc.gatech.edu

Associated importer

Keywords

College of Computing

school of computing instruction

CREATE-X, startup, entrepreneurship, founders

Categories

Student Competition WInners (academic, innovation, and research)

Mercury ID

682405

Source updated

Thu, 05/15/2025 - 09:56

Graduating CS Major Draws Strength from Father’s Example to Lead in Tech

dgivens8 — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 18:00:46 +0000

Graduating CS Major Draws Strength from Father’s Example to Lead in Tech dgivens8 Mon, 04/28/2025 - 14:00

For Tai’Re Barashango, the journey toward computer science (CS) began early, sparked by Lego Mindstorms, a curious mind, and inspiration from his father.

“Growing up, my father taught CS at the high school level,” Tai’Re said. “He never pushed it on me, but I’d visit his office and see what he was working on. Just being around it got me interested.”

Now a faculty member in Georgia Tech’s College of Computing, Sababu Barashango remembers his son’s early creativity well.

“He loved music- listening, dancing, even writing rap songs,” said Sababu, a fellow at the Constellations Center for Education in Computing. “He performed one at his elementary school that became their unofficial theme song. He was also active in sports like basketball, cross country, and track.”

That creative energy extended to technology. Tai’Re began building robotic animals and catapults in middle school using Lego Mindstorm kits, some of which were passed down from his dad. “I gave him my programmable Lego sets,” Sababu said. “And, during summers in high school, I would enroll him in free online courses for coding to complement his CS course.”

At Union Grove High School, he took his first digital technology class.

“Once I started coding, I realized this is kind of my thing,” Tai’Re said.

Outside the classroom, Tai’Re was deeply involved in community service. As a first-year college student, he earned the A.D. King Foundation’s Outstanding Youth Leadership of the Year award. He was recognized for completing over 100 hours of service and for his leadership as a JROTC battalion commander. He also delivered a speech on youth empowerment at the ceremony.

“It was powerful being in a room with people connected to the Civil Rights Movement and others breaking barriers in education,” Tai’Re said. “I think it’s important to give back and inspire kids to be ambitious.”

His father shared how proud he is of his son’s accomplishments. “Tai’Re has grown into a young man with compassion, intelligence, and maturity. He’s a great problem solver, in school and life.”

Now a graduating CS major, Tai’Re has made the most of his time at Tech. He’s been active in research and student organizations. He’s worked as a long-term student assistant in the College of Computing and interned as a software engineer with Genuine Parts Company, tackling real-world technical challenges.

Among his many memorable moments at Georgia Tech, one standout experience for Tai’Re was a Vertically Integrated Project (VIP) with School of Literature, Media, and Communication’s Joycelyn Wilson. His team created a digital archive focused on hip-hop culture.

“We built a website where you could look up songs, watch videos, and even view AI-generated lyric analysis,” Tai’Re said. “It was amazing to merge my love of music with CS.”

He credits CS 1332: Data Structures and Algorithms and other early courses in the School of Computing Instruction for giving him the foundation he needed to succeed.

“That class gave me core skills for technical interviews,” Tai’Re said. “Project-based classes helped me build a strong resume.”

Outside of academics, he was involved in groups such as the African Student Association, African American Student Union, and the Black Student Computing Organization (BSCO).

“BSCO was especially helpful. They host events, share our resumes, and connect us to recruiters,” Tai’Re said.

All the preparation has paid off. After graduation, Tai’Re will begin his career as a software engineer with Cargill in Midtown Atlanta.

His advice for students is to be patient and stay curious.

“Computer science is broad; it might take time to find your niche. But it’s worth exploring. Georgia Tech is rigorous, but you grow a lot as a person and a coder.”

Summary sentence

For Tai’Re Barashango, the journey toward computer science (CS) began early, sparked by Lego Mindstorms, a curious mind, and inspiration from his father.

Summary

For Tai’Re Barashango, the journey toward computer science (CS) began early, sparked by Lego Mindstorms, a curious mind, and inspiration from his father.

Dateline

Mon, 04/28/2025 - 12:00

emily.smith@cc.gatech.edu

Associated importer

Keywords

graduation 2025

College of Computing

school of computing instruction

News room topics

Campus and Community

Categories

Education

Student and Faculty

Student Honors and Achievements

Mercury ID

682101

Source updated

Mon, 04/28/2025 - 14:00

Student Innovation Shines at Spring 2025 CS Junior Design Capstone Expo

dgivens8 — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 14:28:41 +0000

Student Innovation Shines at Spring 2025 CS Junior Design Capstone Expo dgivens8 Thu, 04/24/2025 - 10:28

From a digital tool to enhance workshops to a real-time analytics platform for warehouse sensors, computing students demonstrated a wide range of software solutions at the Spring 2025 Computer Science Junior Design Capstone Expo.

Held on April 21 in the Georgia Tech Exhibition Hall, the event highlighted the technical skills and creativity of third- and fourth-year students in the School of Computing Instruction.

The Expo is the culmination of a two-semester course in which computer science and computational media majors partner with public and private sector clients to design minimally viable products such as mobile apps, dashboards, and analytics platforms to solve real-world problems. Volunteers judge teams on functionality, aesthetics, and presentation quality.

1st Place – ETD Workshop App

This digital platform replaces physical cards with a scalable, interactive web application to support Georgia Tech’s Effective Team Dynamics workshop.

Team Members: Kevin Cao, Benjamin Diprete, Vincent Kong, Heeba Merchant, Ameerah Mourad, Scott Watanuki

2nd Place – Extropian Analytics Platform

Partnering with Extropian, the team upgraded a golf app demo into a commercial-grade platform with a refined UI/UX and insights powered by biomechanical sensor data.

Team Members: Uma Dukle, Tyler Harris, Nikil Kandala, Aryan Shah, Jeffrey Yang

3rd Place (Tie) – Spring/Gait Analysis Dashboard

This computer vision dashboard analyzes running gait using biometric and joint-tracking data, aiding athletes and physical therapists.

Team Members: Aishani Chakraborty, Anisha Sadhale, Samuel Taubman, Robert Terpin, Anish Vallabhaneni, Nolan Winter

3rd Place (Tie) – Poolerz – Carpool Optimization

This mobile and web application simplifies carpooling for families through route and schedule optimization algorithms.

Team Members: Tyler Cady, Matthew Dworkin, Ignacio Galindo, Natasha Narayanan, Annie Vallamattam

One returning client organization was the Sustainability Solutions Group & Institute’s Center for Sustainable Communities.

“We like to give them real-world problems, not just stuff that's made up out of thin air,” client and Georgia Tech alumnus Garry Harris said. "We feed them articles, webinars, and relevant papers throughout the process. They build an inventory of knowledge that drives the project and invest in it because it’s important.”

Student Daniel Long, who worked with Harris’s company, appreciated the collaborative structure. “He gave us a detailed vision but left the implementation up to us. We worked with him to define features and implemented them in two-week iterations. He was always open to our ideas and gave us consistent feedback.”

Another student group, Team Spark, collaborated with Sentinel Devices, a first-time client, to create a dashboard visualizing real-time sensor data.

“Part of the real-world challenge for them was being persistent and communicating what they needed,” said CEO Forrest Shriver.

He added that he met with the team multiple times in person, and their ideas made the project more efficient. “It’s been awesome so far because it’s allowed us to explore more opportunities, adding onto our product that we wouldn’t have had otherwise.”

Spark team member Jenny Lee explained, “Their devices provide sensor data in real time, and our job was to turn that into something useful and readable for the user.”

Teammate Daiwik Pal said, “We didn’t touch any code at first. We spent a semester aligning with the client’s goals before implementation began.”

Each team balanced creativity and technical rigor, and the Spring 2025 CS Junior Design Capstone Expo offered a compelling look at how students are already making an impact beyond the classroom.

More photos of the expo can be found here.

Summary sentence

Summary

Held on April 21 in the Georgia Tech Exhibition Hall, the event highlighted the technical skills and creativity of third- and fourth-year students in the School of Computing Instruction.

Dateline

Thu, 04/24/2025 - 12:00

emily.smith@cc.gatech.edu

Associated importer

Keywords

CS Junior Design Capstone

cs junior design capstone expo

College of Computing

school of computing instruction

Categories

Education

Exhibitions

Student Competition WInners (academic, innovation, and research)

Mercury ID

682002

Source updated

Thu, 04/24/2025 - 10:28

Ramblin’ Hacks: College of Computing Hosts Inaugural Hackathon

dgivens8 — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 13:25:41 +0000

Ramblin’ Hacks: College of Computing Hosts Inaugural Hackathon dgivens8 Tue, 04/22/2025 - 09:25

The College of Computing hosted its first-ever hackathon this month, marking a major milestone in student engagement and corporate partnership.

Though the College has long supported hackathons organized by student groups and independent teams, this event, dubbed Ramblin’ Hacks, was the first to be exclusively organized and hosted by the College.

“This was a big deal,” Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education Olufisayo Omojokun said. “It’s the first time the College has put its resources—people, funding, everything—behind a hackathon from start to finish.”

The Power of Partnership

Industry partners were crucial to the event’s success. Sponsors included Elevance Health, Goldman Sachs, U.S. Soccer, GEICO, FanDuel, Microsoft, and The Trade Desk. These companies provided valuable support through the Corporate Affiliates Program (CAP).

“Ramblin’ Hacks 2025 was a huge success in bringing together top talent and industry innovation. It was exciting to see so much interest from our corporate partners. I’m proud of the wide-ranging set of challenge tracks we helped curate,” Corporate Relations Manager Alyshia Lenoir said.

Lenoir, who initially proposed the idea for a student-organized hackathon, played a key role in expanding it into a College-wide event.

The College’s Constellations Center for Education in Computing also supported the event by recruiting several local high school students and running a separate coding session in partnership with the United States Soccer Federation.

A Community-Driven Experience

A conversation between student leaders and Aarush Yadav, a first-year student and veteran hackathon winner, sparked the idea for Ramblin’ Hacks. When Yadav sought funding to attend a hackathon at Rutgers University, where he ultimately won, the conversation turned to the possibility of hosting a hackathon at Georgia Tech. That idea quickly gained traction and evolved into Ramblin’ Hacks, which brought together 31 student teams for a weekend of innovation and collaboration.

Yadav played a key role in the planning team, saying, “It was amazing to see our hard work finally materialize. Participants worked tirelessly over the weekend to create incredible projects and win amazing prizes. I’m looking forward to executing Ramblin’ Hacks in the years to come.”

Omojokun highlighted Yadav’s dual perspective as both a student and a competitor.

“He wasn’t just a participant; he helped build this with us. It made a real difference to have a student who knows what success looks like from the inside,” Omojokun said.

Director of Community and Student Enrichment Troy Peace emphasized this and how the event brought together students with varying experience levels.

“We had students who had never been to a hackathon before sitting next to people who had already won several,” Peace said. “That kind of atmosphere builds confidence and community.”

Ekta Raj, a computer science major, called Ramblin’ Hacks “one of the best” hackathons she’s attended, praising the event’s structure and collaborative atmosphere for how easy it was for teams to work together.

Looking Ahead

Student Organization Manager Oniecia Henry reflected on the event’s success, saying, “The creativity, the collaboration, the support from our partners all came together in a meaningful way. I think this is just the beginning of something much bigger for the College of Computing.”

Looking to the future, Omojokun shared plans for a credit-based engagement system to track student participation in College events, such as hackathons and workshops. This system could influence funding and support, and the credits could then be factored into budget decisions and funding opportunities through Pitch Thursdays.

“Imagine a world where your club’s participation directly influences the support you get from the College,” Omojokun said. “It’s a way to reward students who are actively building this community.”

As Ramblin’ Hacks sets the stage for future events, the College is committed to expanding these experiential learning opportunities, linking problem-solving, corporate collaboration, and student initiative.

Subtitle

Summary sentence

The College of Computing hosted its first-ever hackathon this month.

Summary

Dateline

Thu, 04/17/2025 - 12:00

emily.smith@cc.gatech.edu

Associated importer

Keywords

College of Computing

Hackathon

school of computing instruction

Categories

Community

Education

Student Competition WInners (academic, innovation, and research)

Mercury ID

681945

Source updated

Tue, 04/22/2025 - 09:24

Ramblin’ Forward: CS Grad Matthew Kistner Looks Back on Driving the Wreck

dgivens8 — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 16:59:41 +0000

Ramblin’ Forward: CS Grad Matthew Kistner Looks Back on Driving the Wreck dgivens8 Wed, 12/11/2024 - 11:59

As he prepares to graduate, Computer Science (CS) major Matthew Kistner is closing a chapter as the Ramblin’ Wreck driver.

The Ramblin’ Wreck, a 1930 Ford Model A Sport Coupe, has been a beloved symbol of Georgia Tech tradition since 1961. It’s a familiar sight around campus, appearing at special events and leading the football team onto the field.

More than a ceremonial role, being the Wreck’s driver comes with significant responsibilities and a deep commitment to preserving Georgia Tech traditions. Kistner took on the challenge of balancing his studies with managing the car and its schedule.

“All of my weeks since January have been about 40 hours of commitment with just the Wreck alone, outside of school. It is a full-time job, seven days a week,” he said.

Yet Kistner has made the most of every opportunity.

Expanding the Reach of the Wreck

One of Kistner’s goals was to take the Wreck farther than ever before. This year, the car traveled over 3,000 miles to 10 states, including Syracuse, New York, and Naples, Florida.

“We went to Syracuse for the (football game against Georgia Tech). That was the farthest north the car had ever traveled,” Kistner said.

His first encounter with the Wreck happened in 2019 during a game at Clemson, which drove him to reignite the tradition of taking the Wreck to away games.

“It’s something special to see Tech’s spirit in a different city,” he said.

Innovating the Icon

Kistner’s problem-solving background played a role in enhancing the Wreck’s safety and performance. He overhauled the vehicle’s electrical system and installed turn signals to make it road-safe. Exposed fuses made it dangerous to drive in the rain, but now the system is fully enclosed and waterproof, ensuring the Wreck is safe to drive in all weather conditions.

He also streamlined the scheduling process for student rides by creating a signup sheet for organizations.

“This made it 10 times easier for me to manage and made the Wreck more accessible,” he said.

Maximizing Opportunities

In addition to driving the Wreck, Kistner participated in several other projects and organizations on campus.

“I wanted to get as involved as possible with different things on campus, not just one thing,” he said.

As fundraising chair for the Ramblin’ Reck Club, Kistner raised a record-breaking $27,000. He also became a campus tour guide, and at one point he held responsibility for all sports print media on campus. He served as sports editor for the Technique and assistant sports editor on the inaugural staff to bring back the Blueprint Yearbook.

Kistner said managing time is important to finding life balance. His strategic approach to class scheduling, such as taking summer semesters and stacking hard classes, made his final years more feasible.

“CS is an at-your-own-pace major, and programming is something you can do at any hour of the day. It lends itself to the night owl, which is beneficial to me,” he said.

Support and Mentorship

Prior to coming to Georgia Tech, Kistner had never programmed.

“It wasn’t something I knew or was familiar with at all,” he said.

School of Computing Instruction lecturer Melinda McDaniel played a pivotal role in shaping his academic journey.

“She was the first instructor I had in CS, and her class launched my interest in the subject.”

Later, he enjoyed School of Interactive Computing Assistant Professor Jessica Roberts’s EdTech class and her contribution to homecoming week.

“She’s been one of my favorite professors at Georgia Tech,” he said. “One of my favorite memories is when she made a cake shaped like the Wreck for the band during homecoming week.”

Looking Ahead and Advice for Future Yellow Jackets

As he wraps up his time at Georgia Tech, Kistner offers simple advice for future students: seize opportunities.

“Leave no regrets,” he said. “Try as many things as possible and make the most of the opportunities you’re given. Breathe in and take your moments. When riding the Wreck or any special moment, think about your five senses and focus on them to maximize the experience.”

Kistner will continue his involvement with the Wreck by training his successor. After graduation, he plans to pursue a career in sports analytics and blend his technical skills with his passion for athletics.

His time as the Wreck’s driver may be coming to an end, but his legacy will continue in the memories he created and the innovations he made.

Those interested in joining the Ramblin’ Reck Club and continuing this iconic tradition can find more information here.

Summary sentence

As he prepares to graduate, Computer Science (CS) major Matthew Kistner is closing a chapter as the Ramblin’ Wreck driver.

Summary

As he prepares to graduate, Computer Science (CS) major Matthew Kistner is closing a chapter as the Ramblin’ Wreck driver.

Dateline

Wed, 12/11/2024 - 12:00

Contact

Emily Smith

College of Computing

Associated importer

Keywords

the wreck

Wreck

ramblin reck club

ramblin reck

College of Computing

school of computing instruction

bachelor graduation

fall graduation

News room topics

Campus and Community

Categories

Student Honors and Achievements

Mercury ID

678837

Source updated

Wed, 12/11/2024 - 11:59