PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (September 11 , 2025) – Prairie View A&M University’s Research & Innovation, through its ICEED (Innovation, Commercialization, and Entrepreneurship for Economic Development), recently hosted the fifth annual Panthers Invent from Sept. 5–7 on campus. The hands-on innovation competition invited Panthers to showcase bold ideas, cutting-edge solutions, and entrepreneurial creativity. This year’s theme, “Innovating National Security: Harnessing Technology to Address Emerging Threats,” challenged participants to explore how emerging technologies can tackle critical issues—from cybersecurity and defense systems to disaster response and infrastructure protection.
The three-day event was a remarkable display of ingenuity as teams pitched solutions to real-world challenges. The atmosphere buzzed with energy as participants competed for prizes and received valuable feedback from industry experts, including sponsor and collaborator Sandia National Laboratories. From cutting-edge technology prototypes to socially impactful business concepts, the competition showcased the talent, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit thriving at Prairie View A&M University.
“This event is more than just a competition—it’s a powerful showcase of what can happen when bold ideas, collaboration and determination converge,” said Magesh Rajan, Ph.D., vice president for research and innovation. “Our students continue to inspire us with their creativity and passion for solving real-world problems. I’m also proud of our Research and Innovation team, especially the ICEED staff, whose dedication made this event a success. Panthers Invent is a reminder that excellence truly lives here.”
First Place: Team Abbott Elementary
“As we continue to elevate PVAMU’s role in research and innovation, Panthers Invent demonstrates the impact of industry partnerships on student success,” said Sunjay Bali, Executive Director of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships. “We are especially grateful to Sandia National Laboratories for their mentorship and support, which not only strengthened the competition but also deepened the real-world experiences our students gained. Together, we are preparing the next generation of innovators to tackle national challenges with confidence and creativity.”
The competition cultivated a spirit of innovation, collaboration, and perseverance, motivating participants to push the limits of their ideas and pursue their goals with confidence. Students took the stage to present and pitch their projects to a panel of judges, impressed with their creativity, innovation, and dedication, and earning well-deserved recognition for their hard work and problem-solving skills.
“It takes a lot of courage to participate as a freshman. Day one was overwhelming—I didn’t know a single person. But as the event went on, I made some great acquaintances, found valuable networking opportunities, and gained insightful information,” said Rae Amaria Siller, a freshman computer science major.
Second Place: Team Phish Hook
“Panthers Invent continues to be one of the most exciting student-driven programs at PVAMU,” said Darius Sims, Program Specialist for ICEED. “Each year, our students prove that with the right support and opportunities, they can compete and collaborate on the highest levels. It was inspiring to see so many innovative solutions emerge this year, and we look forward to building on this momentum for years to come.”
Siller’s reflection captured the spirit of Panthers Invent, where collaboration, mentorship and innovation defined the competition. That same drive was on full display as student teams presented their solutions to industry-inspired challenges, with the top three projects earning recognition.
First place went to Abbott Elementary for their project, Deep Learning for Anomaly Detection in Remote Sensing Data. Team members included Christian Abbott, mechanical engineering; Myles Martin, finance; Donald Okonkwo, mechanical engineering; Naji Potier, mechanical engineering; Jacob Range, mechanical engineering; and Carl Simon, mechanical engineering.
Second place was awarded to Phish Hook for their project, AI-Powered Phishing Detection. The team consisted of Bryce Angelle, computer science; Jeremiah Ary, electrical engineering; Adam Jones, computer science; Adedeji Kuforiji, mathematics; and Josiah Moore, computer science.
Third place went to JJAAM’D for their project, Data-Driven Acoustic Emission Analysis for Structural Health Monitoring. Team members included Donovan Jones, electrical engineering; Mario Jones II, information management systems; Jasmine Smith, mechanical engineering; Alyssa Stevens, mechanical and electrical engineering; Jyeshuah Swain, computer engineering; and Amore Williams, mechanical engineering.
Third place: Team JJAAM’D
Panthers Invent 2025 brought together PVAMU students from across many disciplines, showcasing their creativity, determination, and problem-solving skills. From bold ideas to innovative solutions, the event highlighted a culture of collaboration and resilience. It was a powerful reminder that at Prairie View A&M University, ingenuity knows no boundaries, challenges spark opportunity—and excellence lives here.
Open Panthers Invent picture gallery here!
By Joe McGinty