IEEE ClarkHack Spring 2025 challenges students to use AI to build campus solutions
Clark’s student branch of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers successfully hosted its first-ever hackathon, IEEE ClarkHack Spring 2025, setting a strong foundation for a future of innovation and collaboration. With a dynamic theme, “AI for a Smarter Campus: Optimizing Processes at Clark,” the event brought together students eager to tackle real-world challenges.
The event took place in Tilton Hall on March 23 and 24, transforming the space into a hub of creativity and technological advancement. Ten teams, totaling 30 passionate participants, worked intensively to develop AI-driven solutions with the potential for meaningful impact.
ClarkHack 2025 commenced with an insightful keynote address by Laura A. Robinson, whose guidance played a crucial role in shaping the vision and execution of the event. On the final day, Provost John Magee delivered an inspiring speech, encouraging participants to look beyond prototypes and envision bold ideas capable of transforming not only Clark University but also the broader technological landscape.
Support from the University and expert guidance
The success of the hackathon was made possible through the generous support of its sponsors, the Graduate Student Council, Goddard Library, and School of Professional Studies. The event also benefited from the expertise and thoughtful insights of esteemed judges Jennifer Hanselman, associate provost and dean of research, and Elissa Lu, director of strategic analytics and institutional research. Additionally, the IEEE Student Branch received invaluable mentorship from Khald Aboalayon, academic director for the Masters in Data Analytics program, and Kayed Akkawi, academic program director for the Masters in Computer Science program, whose guidance helped participants refine their ideas into impactful solutions.
The hackathon concluded with three outstanding projects recognized for their ingenuity and potential impact on campus.
First Place: A-Team
Team Members: Steve Prathik Fernandes, M.S. ’26, M.S. ’27, Sharmendra Desiboyina, M.S. ’26, Nishal Sukumar, M.S. ’26
Their project, EcoSync, is an AI-powered HVAC system designed to optimize energy consumption in campus buildings. Using real-time weather data, room size, and occupancy levels, EcoSync predicts heating and cooling needs with 92% accuracy, reducing electricity costs by 22% and cutting carbon emissions by 16.25 metric tons annually. The project was developed using a Random Forest Regressor model, Flask API, Angular, and the WeatherMap API.
Second Place: Yume Labs
Team Members: Debabrata Panda, M.S. ’25, Jahnavi Palachanda Chittiappa, M.S. ’25, Rishabh Sethi, M.S. ’26
The team introduced ClarkuBot, an AI-powered chatbot designed to simplify navigation of the Clark University website. Built using Python and a custom-trained Google Gemini API, ClarkuBot allows users to retrieve information efficiently, improving access to department resources, student club details, and University policies. The chatbot features a Streamlit UI, ensuring easy integration and scalability.
Third Place: J.A.V.A.R.I.S
Team Members: Nithin Rachakonda, M.S. ’25, Sai Nithisha Marripelly, M.S. ’25, Subhash Medipalli, M.S. ’25
Addressing the challenge of parking availability on campus, the team developed Campus Compass. This AI-powered system leverages VGG19, OpenCV, and PyTorch to analyze live camera feeds and detect vacant parking spots in real time. It ranks parking garages based on proximity using the Haversine formula and integrates Google Maps for seamless navigation. The system has the potential to reduce campus congestion and could be extended for indoor navigation, particularly for individuals with accessibility needs.
Recognizing Team Effort and Dedication
The success of ClarkHack 2025 was a testament to the dedication and effort of the event’s executive team: Keerthana Goka, M.S. ’25, Kunal Malhan, M.S. ’25, Eleena Srujana, M.S. ’25, Madhumita Tripathy, Swathi Dhanani Nukaraju, M.S. ’25, Ugochukwu Azubuine, M.S. ’25, Neha Manjrekar, M.S. ’25, and Akshata Bandekar, M.S. ’26.
Additionally, the winners, judges, and guests were presented with custom-designed mementos handcrafted at Clark University’s Lux Lab, showcasing the intersection of creativity and technological innovation on campus.
Looking to the Future
ClarkHack 2025 was not just an event—it was a celebration of ideas, problem-solving, and collaboration. The hackathon highlighted the potential of AI in shaping a smarter campus and emphasized the role of technology in addressing everyday challenges. With the overwhelming enthusiasm and success of this inaugural event, Clark University looks forward to hosting more such initiatives, fostering an environment where students can turn their ideas into impactful solutions. For further information, please email ieee@clarku.edu.
