Southern Miss Computing Sciences & Computer Engineering Graduates Earn Awards at the Innovative Design for Computing Competition
Thu, 06/26/2025 - 09:58am | By: Ivonne Kawas
It starts with a bold idea in the classroom鈥搒omething ambitious, a little uncertain, but full of potential. At The University of 网曝吃瓜, recent graduates in the School of Computing Sciences and Computer Engineering brought their ideas to life through the Innovative Design for Computing Competition (IDCC), all driven by a single challenge: solve real-world problems using the power of technology.
From vehicle diagnostics to athlete scouting tools, this year鈥檚 prototypes tackled real-world challenges across industries like transportation, healthcare and IT. Whether coding systems or developing software, the students proved they were ready to innovate鈥揳nd inspired attendees with a showcase of practical solutions.
Following their presentations, four teams were recognized with monetary awards, made possible through funding from the statewide .
鈥淭he IDCC serves as an opportunity for students to apply classroom learning to real-world challenges,鈥� said Dr. Amer Dawoud, associate professor in the School of Computing Sciences and Computer Engineering and coordinator of the annual IDCC. 鈥淭heir designs showcased a blend of technical expertise, resilience, creativity and the readiness of Southern Miss students to innovate.鈥�
The four winning IDCC competition teams and their projects included:
First Place: Zachary Bennett and Vinay Panchal
Project: OBDII over LoRa: Long Range Networking for Multi-Vehicle Monitoring and Diagnostics
The challenge: Since 1996, most highway vehicles have been equipped with the OBDII (Onboard Automotive Diagnostic System), which monitors vehicle health and alerts users when issues arise. While mechanics can access this data through readily available scan tools, the need for a physical connection limits remote diagnostics, posing a significant challenge for managing large commercial fleets.
The solution: This project expands the capabilities of the OBDII system by integrating a small wireless device called a LoRa (Long Range) radio, capable of transmitting data up to 10 kilometers directly, or as far as 90 kilometers using a Meshtastic network. This allows vehicle data to be sent wirelessly to a central location without requiring a physical connection.
Why it matters: For companies managing vehicle fleets鈥搒uch as delivery or service providers鈥搕his innovation enables real-time remote diagnostics and monitoring. It supports proactive maintenance, improves operational efficiency and reduces downtime caused by mechanical issues.
Second Place: Nicole Fagan, Kristen Gilmer, Amanda Hammons, Aayush Gautam, Hritik Ghising
Project: Knowledge Vault: A Knowledge Retention and Collaboration Platform for Legacy Systems
The challenge: While cloud computing and AI are on the rise, many industries still rely on mainframe systems to power critical operations. As seasoned programmers retire, organizations risk losing decades of institutional knowledge essential for maintaining and updating these systems.
The solution: This team developed Knowledge Vault, a secure, on-premises web platform for capturing and sharing mainframe knowledge. Built in collaboration with a local business, the platform features a documentation repository, a searchable issue resolution database, team collaboration tools, support for future AI integration and more!
Why it matters: Knowledge Vault helps organizations preserve institutional knowledge, reduce downtime and train new developers. It offers a scalable, modern solution to the growing challenge of maintaining legacy systems鈥揺nsuring long-term continuity for essential infrastructure.
Third Place: Philip Vu and Anthony Rito
Project: Data-Driven Scouting Dashboard for NCAA Athlete Recruitment
The challenge: University athletic programs often face an inefficient scouting process due to fragmented data, inconsistent formatting, and reliance on subjective evaluations. Valuable performance insights are often locked in static documents, limiting the ability to identify top talent, especially from underrepresented schools.
The solution: This project introduces a streamlined platform that automatically converts PDF stat sheets into structured datasets using intelligent parsing. A dashboard built with Plotly Dash visualizes the data, enabling coaches to filter, compare, and analyze athlete performance. Additionally, predictive analytics tools help identify emerging talent based on performance trends.
Why it matters: By automating the breakdown of data and reducing bias, the platform makes scouting faster and driven by data. It improves the accuracy of recruitment decisions and helps uncover promising athletes who might otherwise go unnoticed.
Fourth Place: Ethan Cook, Hagen Bracey, Bayleigh Fizer, Tigest Boutwell, Alexander Booth, Ainsley Booksh, Bradley Bellipanni and Dylan Duncan
Project: Developing a Real-Time Communication Tool for Modern Workspaces: EnterChat
The challenge: As workplace communication grows more complex, organizations, especially in sensitive sectors like healthcare and IT, need secure tools that support real-time collaboration without compromising data privacy or security.
The solution: EnterChat is a real-time communication platform offering encrypted text channels, file sharing, video calls with screen sharing, and integrated scheduling tools. Built with Laravel, React and Node.js WebSockets, it ensures secure, real-time interaction and stores credentials safely using PostgreSQL.
Why it matters: EnterChat enhances internal collaboration while minimizing the risk of data breaches. With robust encryption and an intuitive interface, it delivers a reliable solution for secure, modern workplace communication.
About Mississippi Space Grant Consortium (MSSGC)
MSSGC is a statewide non-profit organization supported by NASA whose membership includes 17 institutions of higher learning across the state. Headquartered at the University of Mississippi, MSSGC is led by Dr. Nathan Murray, director, and Dr. Earnest Stephens, assistant director. MSSGC provides opportunities for Mississippians who are interested in participating in NASA鈥檚 aeronautics and space programs by supporting and enhancing STEM fields, research and outreach programs. Click for more information.