
Students Advance in the Hult Prize Competition Tackling Global Education Challenges
Two Las Positas College students, Zarek Leal and Matt Jones, recently represented LPC at the prestigious Hult Prize, the world's largest student startup competition. The annual program challenges students from around the globe to develop for-profit businesses that address some of the world's most pressing issues, with the opportunity to compete for $1 million in startup funding.
Zarek and Matt's team developed an innovative solution: an offline, solar-powered AI education system designed for schools that face challenges with reliable electricity and internet access. The system serves as an AI tutor, assists with grading, generates tests and homework assignments, creates learning materials and presentations, and helps educators monitor student progress and outcomes.
Their impressive work advanced them to the national round of the competition, where they competed against some of the strongest student entrepreneurs in the country. While the team narrowly missed advancing to the finals, their achievement is a testament to their creativity, determination, and commitment to making education more accessible.
Looking ahead, the team is focused on further enhancing their product and expanding its impact. They are actively pursuing accelerator programs and other opportunities to continue developing their company and bring their solution to more communities in need around the world.
Congratulations to Zarek and Matt for representing Las Positas College and demonstrating how student innovation can help address global challenges.
LPC Mission: Las Positas College is an inclusive, learning-centered, equity-focused environment that offers educational opportunities and support for completion of students’ transfer, degree, and career-technical goals while promoting lifelong learning.
College Priorities:
Equity:
Establish a knowledge base and an appreciation for equity; create a sense of urgency about moving toward equity; institutionalize equity in decision-making, assessment, and accountability; and build capacity to resolve inequities.
Student Success & Completion:
Increase student success and completion through change in college practices and processes: coordinating needed academic support, removing barriers, and supporting focused professional development across the campus.
Health and Wellness:
Establish a knowledge base and an appreciation for health and wellness in the workplace; create a sense of urgency about wellness in decision-making, assessment, and accountability; and build capacity to support wellness.
