The 2025 AAAS Making & Innovation Showcase drew more than 100 participants from 19 teams representing 14 Historically Black Colleges and Universities, but just a few of the innovations presented were selected for top awards at the showcase, held Sept. 27-29 in Washington and hosted by AAAS in partnership with the National Science Foundation and VentureWell.
Winners were awarded in two categories: Showcase, for teams whose inventions were particularly original, and Engagement, for teams who demonstrated strong involvement in the mentoring and enrichment activities at the showcase and in the months leading up to it.
The winning teams are:
Showcase 1st place: Team PlantGPT, Spelman College
A personified conversational Large Language Model (LLMs) to analyze plant health data and generate tailored, comprehensive care recommendations.
Team members: Phillip Thompson (advisor), Temple Dees, Joy Rutledge, Devyn Washington, Jessica Obi
Showcase 2nd place: Team InnovaCollective, University of the District of Columbia
A commercialization hub and support process for HBCU students, staff and faculty.
Team members: Pawan Tyagi (advisor), Rodney Trapp, Sampson Addo, Julian King, John Irungu
Engagement 1st place, tied: Team Blue Horizon, Alabama A&M University
A incentive-driven app to inform and connect lower-income populations to sustainable actions, products and services to foster climate-preserving education.
Team members: Ed Pearson (advisor), Ruvarashe Nyabando, Mauyon Wusu, Tatenda Joseph, Bukata Mubanga
Engagement 1st place, tied: Read & Rise, Bowie State University
A reading comprehension app for Maryland 4th graders, intended to be supplemental to the pending state literacy policy to bolster educational milestones.
Team members: Velma Latson (advisor), Taelor White, Billy Garcia, LaTreil Wimberly, Mekhi Allen, Chimaobi Udeze
“HBCUs have long served as economic engines by fostering innovation and workforce development nationally,” said Iris Wagstaff, program director of the initiative and NSF PI. “These student-led winning teams exemplify the perseverance, creative problem solving, and diverse talent base that has contributed to U.S scientific advancements.”
Panelists gather at the 2025 AAAS Making & Innovation Showcase in Washington, D.C. | AAAS
The activities of the HBCU Making & Innovation Initiative continue well beyond the culmination of the showcase, with the recent launch of the Faculty Innovation Leadership Institute, which offers training, research opportunities, grant opportunities, professional development, and resources in innovation-related areas for a cohort of HBCU faculty members.
Forthcoming activities include the HBCU-Led Research Study, for which the HBCU Making & Innovation Initiative has solicited proposals to conduct research to advance innovation capacity at HBCUs. The HBCU-led research team that will be awarded will conduct research on how to facilitate positive change in innovation at HBCUs. The initiative will also include the HBCU Innovation Listening Session, a virtual, comprehensive, one-day seminar on ecosystems that support underrepresented inventors and the obstacles within institutional capacity over six listening sessions.
The impacts of the initiative also resonate as student participants continue to take inspiration from e-mentoring sessions ranging from pitch development strategies to design thinking, network-strengthening opportunities, and other professional development. Learn more from the showcase participants about their experiences and aspirations in their own words.
How did you become interested in invention and entrepreneurship? Have you previously pursued other areas of innovation?
Sampson Addo, University of the District of Columbia, Innova Collective: My interest in invention and entrepreneurship began in my teenage years when I read about NASA’s work in a Ghanaian newspaper my father gave me. Inspired, I wrote to NASA, and they responded by sending me monthly magazines detailing their activities. This sparked a lifelong curiosity in innovation. Later, as a business consultant after earning my second degree, I supported entrepreneurs in Ghana to launch and grow their ventures. After relocating to the U.S., I joined my current faculty advisor in UDC to participate in the NSF I-Corps program, working on a pre-existing invention developed by him—further deepening my engagement with innovation.
Joy Rutledge, Spelman College, PlantGPT: I’ve been drawn to invention and entrepreneurship since I was a child. The most accessible way to explore that interest was through building websites and software applications. Over time, my focus has evolved around solidarity and community autonomy whether by democratizing access to digital tools or developing technologies that help people take ownership of their environment and future in contrast to the centralized, extractive systems that enable the widening divide between the haves and have-nots today.
LaTreil Wimberly, Bowie State University, Read and Rise: Since childhood, I’ve been deeply interested in invention and entrepreneurship, consistently participating in tech workshops and watching projects come to life. In high school, I was part of the Science and Technology program, where one of my fondest memories was competing in a robotics challenge. Working in teams, we designed, customized, and assembled a fully functional four-legged robot, each leg controlled by a separate controller. That hands-on experience solidified my passion for technology and engineering, confirming my aspiration to become an inventor.
Devyn Washington, Spelman College, Plant GPT: I became interested in invention and entrepreneurship largely because of my school’s Innovation Lab. The Lab hosts Spelpreneur, our campus entrepreneurship club. They also hold workshops every week on emerging technology and innovation. I am a research student in the lab, and we’re currently working on a workplace training simulation in collaboration with Georgia Tech and Georgia AIM.
Chimaobi Udeze, Bowie State University, Read and Rise: I became interested in invention and entrepreneurship because I’ve always liked finding new ways to solve problems. I enjoy working with technology and creating things that make tasks easier or more efficient. I’ve tried other projects before that involved coding and design, which helped me stay creative and think more like an innovator.
How has attending (or working at) your college or university fostered your interest in innovation? How did you become involved in the HBCU Making and Innovation Showcase cohort?
Eric Thompson, Assistant Director, Spelman Innovation Lab: I’m the Assistant Director of the Spelman Innovation Lab, where our mission is to create a space for invention, innovation, entrepreneurship, and creative expression that connects the entire campus community—regardless of academic discipline. The lab is intentionally interdisciplinary, operating at the crossroads of art, the humanities, and STEM, because that’s where true innovation often happens.
In my role, I oversee both the programming and day-to-day operations of the lab, ensuring that the hundreds of student-led projects we support each semester—whether wearable tech fashion, video games, or AI-powered plants—have the resources they need to succeed. I also collaborate directly with students on advanced projects, such as our PlantGPT initiative, and mentor participants in our Innovation Lab Fellowship, where students pitch and develop their own advanced ideas while being compensated to pursue them throughout the semester.
The opportunity to participate in the HBCU Making and Innovation Showcase was shared with our team through the President’s Office. Around that same time, we had just begun developing our PlantGPT project internally, so it felt like a natural fit to highlight the innovative, interdisciplinary work happening in the Spelman Innovation Lab on a national stage.
Joy Rutledge, Spelman College, PlantGPT: I became involved in the HBCU Making and Innovation Showcase through the Innovation Lab at Spelman College. In the lab, you will always see students working on the most interesting projects from VR-storytelling, to sustainable fashion and fabric work, to laser-cutting puzzles, you name it. It’s a really inspiring place to be in.
Julian King, University of the District of Columbia, Innova Collective: Currently at my university, I am happy to be one of the many change agents for innovation in terms of AI, Virtual Reality, and Course Design. My university has played a big part by continuing to nurture ambition and curiosity. A colleague and peer asked me to participate, and I couldn’t say no once he explained the idea to me.
LaTreil Wimberly, Bowie State University, Read and Rise: Building relationships with professors at Bowie State University has opened doors for me to further explore my passion for innovation. Through their guidance, I’ve been able to participate in several innovation-focused initiatives. One of the most impactful experiences was joining the HBCU Making and Innovation Showcase cohort, an opportunity made possible by working closely with Dr. Latson.
Billy Garcia, Bowie State University, Read & Rise: My college has definitely helped me pursue my interest of entrepreneurship. I never had taken the first step before, but on campus I feel like no idea should be wasted. There is a building just for entrepreneurship that has a lot of features to create and innovate. I became involved by being referred into the interest meeting, and I stayed.
How and why did you and your team decide upon your project?
Joy Rutledge, Spelman College, PlantGPT: The project started as a plant sensor that had the capacity to talk back to you! With the ingenuity of my teammates and advisor, we started thinking of ways to scale it and build more features on it each with our own touch and expertise. We started asking: How can this tool not only monitor plant health but also empower people to better understand their environment? In what ways can we truly personify the plant so that you would want to care for it? Those questions pushed us to scale the idea and integrate new features that promote accessibility and sustainability.
Sampson Addo, University of the District of Columbia, Innova Collective: Our team chose this project because two of us are currently pursuing PhDs focused on Technology Commercialization in HBCUs. We’ve witnessed firsthand the challenges and opportunities in this space. Additionally, my involvement in the NSF I-Corps and NIH REACH programs—both centered on technology commercialization in higher education—highlighted the underrepresentation of minority institutions. This reinforced our commitment to develop a solution created by HBCU students, for HBCU innovators. In all, our team comprises of two technology commercialization people, an AI and coding expert, and an educational technology expert and this diverse expertise made it effortless and exciting for us to develop this project.
Taelor White, Bowie State University, Read and Rise: Our team decided on our project when we were looking through the prompts and extra research about Maryland’s reading problem and realized that it was getting bad, and we wanted to change that. We decided on the app due to other educational apps not looking as entertaining for young children and no app to help children with map testing.
What impact did the monthly e-mentoring, coaching and PD webinars from the inclusive community of practice, advisory board members and project partners/collaborators have on your educational development and career plans?
Joy Rutledge, Spelman College, PlantGPT: The mentoring sessions taught us how to communicate our ideas to a wide range of audiences from technical experts to people hearing about our work for the first time. We learned to refine our message, focus our goals, and tailor our story to what truly resonates with people. Communicating complex ideas with clarity and purpose is something I’ll carry forward into my career in research and innovation.
LaTreil Wimberly, Bowie State University, Read and Rise: Participating in these events has significantly enhanced my skills and broadened my perspective on innovation and entrepreneurship. The exposure to diverse ideas and approaches helped guide my team and me in shaping our project’s design and strategy.
John Irungu, University of the District of Columbia, Innova Collective Ventures: Advisory and coaching enhanced my professional experience on how to prepare expected and perform in real world project execution, management, and delivery.
Chimaobi Udeze, Bowie State University, Read and Rise: The e-mentoring and webinars helped me understand more about innovation and teamwork. They gave me new ideas for how to approach challenges and plan for my future career. Hearing from professionals also made me more confident about pursuing opportunities in tech and entrepreneurship.
Eric Thompson, Assistant Director, Spelman Innovation Lab: The biggest impact came from learning how to communicate our team’s ideas in a more compelling and comprehensive way. Early on, our initial pitch for PlantGPT lacked clarity around the value proposition, what made it distinct from existing apps, and its environmental impact. Through the e-mentoring and coaching sessions, we gained valuable feedback on how to refine our storytelling—both in our video presentation and during the final pitch. That experience significantly strengthened our ability to convey complex, interdisciplinary projects in a way that resonates with broader audiences.
What did you find most memorable about the Showcase?
Temple Dees, Spelman College, PlantGPT: I think the most memorable part of the Showcase was watching other teams present what they’ve been working on all year. It was great learning about all of their amazing ideas and how they were bringing them to life.
Sampson Addo, University of the District of Columbia, Innova Collective: The most memorable moment was when I heard our team’s name as the second team in the pitch competition. Another memorable event was our team’s pitch practice the night before the presentation. The energy, passion, and unwavering commitment we shared to deliver a clear and compelling message that would secure us the second position were truly inspiring.
Joy Rutledge, Spelman College, PlantGPT: The most memorable part of the Showcase was seeing the creativity and brilliance across HBCUs. Every team had projects that were not only impactful but reimagined what innovation could look like when rooted in culture, resilience, and community. It was a reminder that Black innovation at its core has always been about creating a better world.
Chimaobi Udeze Bowie State University Read and Rise: The most memorable part of the Showcase was seeing how creative and innovative everyone was with their projects. It was cool to see students from different schools turn their ideas into working prototypes. I really liked how supportive the environment felt
What are your career goals?
Joy Rutledge, Spelman College, PlantGPT: My career goals center on leveraging technology from satellites to machine learning to understand and protect the planet’s biodiversity, climate, and food systems under rising global temperatures. I aim to bridge data science, environmental research, and community action to create technologies that serve people and the planet.
Julian King, University of the District of Columbia, Innova Collective: My career goal is to finish getting my PhD, then to open a school.
LaTreil Wimberly, Bowie State University, Read and Rise: I aspire to attend grad school and then become a data analyst or systems administrator.
John Irungu, University of the District of Columbia, Innova Collective Ventures: Research science role in tech companies as well as build and innovate scalable products that solve some of the most pressing societal problems. I still plan on being part of Innova Collective Ventures to be part of scaling its processes and fruition of its vision.
Devyn Washington, Spelman College, Plant GPT: After furthering my education, I would like to pursue a career in either software development or game development. I would eventually like to teach computer science, preferably at the college level, to pay it forward.
Billy Garcia, Bowie State University, Read & Rise: I want to become a data scientist. I know that data is invaluable and it will be the center of everything in the future.
How do you plan to implement the knowledge and training you gained for future efforts?
Sampson Addo, University of the District of Columbia, Innova Collective: I plan to apply the knowledge and training by building more robust support systems specifically tailored for HBCU innovators, helping them navigate and succeed in the innovation ecosystem.
Joy Rutledge, Spelman College, PlantGPT: I hope to keep building and creating things that align with my values.
Taelor White Bowie State University Read and Rise: I plan to implement the knowledge and training I gained in my future efforts by using the programming skills I perfected for my future software job.
Chimaobi Udeze, Bowie State University, Read and Rise: In upcoming projects, I want to apply the knowledge I gained about problem-solving, collaboration, and presentation techniques. The Showcase taught me how important it is to test ideas, accept feedback, and keep improving.
Eric Thompson, Assistant Director, Spelman Innovation Lab: We know that the ideas and projects developed in the Innovation Lab are strong, creative, and forward-thinking—but this experience showed us that innovation alone isn’t enough. Moving forward, we plan to focus more intentionally on improving the storytelling around our work. By better communicating the impact, process, and purpose behind each project, we can help our students share their innovations more effectively and inspire broader engagement both on and off campus.
What is your advice for fellow students at HBCUs who are interested in innovation, invention, or entrepreneurship?
Temple Dees, Spelman College, PlantGPT: Don’t wait for the perfect idea to get involved. Talk to people, get their feedback, and continue to iterate.
Joy Rutledge, Spelman College, PlantGPT: A mentor once told me to “learn by doing,” so don’t wait to create or build just because you don’t know how yet. The best way to learn is to start doing!
Chimaobi Udeze, Bowie State University, Read and Rise: Even if your idea isn’t perfect, I would advise you to just get started. Make use of available resources, get in touch with instructors, and make connections with other students who have similar interests. Don’t be scared to ask questions or to fail. More than anything else, innovation stems from curiosity and consistency.
Billy Garcia, Bowie State University, Read & Rise: I believe that everyone should make an attempt at innovation, invention, and entrepreneurship all together because it brings out creative characteristics that some people don’t know they have and once you start a project/presentation, you gain research and critical thinking skills as you go.
Sampson Addo, University of the District of Columbia, Innova Collective: Get involved in the HBCU Making and Innovation Showcase! I highly recommend it to any HBCU student interested in innovation. The program offers an inclusive, exciting, and empowering environment that nurtures your ideas and helps you grow your innovative solutions.
