CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS – The Learning Technology Center (LTC) is proud to announce Armaan Grewal, Kayen Patel, and Oliver Greene, a team of students from Walter Payton College Preparatory High School, as the winners of the inaugural Illinois AI Challenge.
Led by teacher Kailen Lee, the team’s winning proposal, titled “ClinicFlow,” leverages artificial intelligence to revolutionize patient triage and queue optimization for local free medical clinics.
By utilizing machine learning algorithms, the system is designed to identify urgent medical cases in resource-constrained settings where professional triage staff may be unavailable.
ClinicFlow was inspired by the team’s research into severe resource constraints at local free clinics, where inefficient patient flow can delay acute care and lead to adverse medical outcomes.
The statewide contest invited students in grades 6-12 across Illinois to envision AI-powered solutions to real-world problems in their communities. The Payton Neural Network team stood out for their human-centered approach, aligning their technical implementation with UNESCO AI Guidelines for safe and ethical use.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the projects we received,” said Dr. Sarah Phelps, Director of CS & STEM for the Learning Technology Center and contest judge. “ Every team went above and beyond to imagine solutions that made their communities healthier, safer, more prosperous, and better prepared to handle adversity.”
In selecting this project, Dr. Phelps and the judging panel highlighted its significant potential for real-world success and applauded the students’ attention to functional safety and equity, including appropriately leveraging Random Forests and Gradient Boosting Regressors AI models.
For participating in the Illinois AI Challenge, the team received a certificate of participation along with professional feedback on their technical plan. Each team member and their teacher also received a $1,000 Amazon gift card
All participating teams were also encouraged to submit their projects to the national Presidential AI Challenge, allowing them to showcase Illinois’ leadership in responsible AI innovation on a broader stage.
The Learning Technology Center is an Illinois State Board of Education program that supports all public K-12 districts, schools, and educators through technology initiatives, services, and professional learning opportunities.
Our work supports teachers, technology leaders, school administrators, and more — all with the goal of making tech-powered learning more accessible, safe, and engaging for all students.
To learn more about how we’re supporting AI’s role in education and other student opportunities, visit ltcillinois.org or follow @ltcillinois on social media.
Sarah leads computer science and STEM initiatives, manages partnerships with state and national organizations, and elevates the LTC’s role as a thought leader in the K-12 computer science space.
Winners of the inaugural Illinois AI Challenge share what inspired their project, what they learned from their experience, and how AI is impacting their educational life.
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