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News & Events

What's happening at the lab.

Awards, student wins, grants, media coverage, and the events we organize and support.

Five people smiling and holding an oversized $35,000 check from the PROPEL Center Future of Tech Innovation Challenge 2026, made out to Team HAX Lab, Morgan State
From left: Dr. Naja A. Mack, Osita Odunze, Fikewa Akindolire, Daniel Onyejiekwe, and Jaden Reeves.
Featured Student achievement 2026

HAX Lab students capture a national AI innovation title

Osita Odunze, Jaden Reeves, Daniel Onyejiekwe, and Fikewa Akindolire took first place among HBCU teams at the 2026 PROPEL Center Future of Tech Innovation Challenge in Austin, Texas, winning the $35,000 grand prize.

Their project, SocialSense AI, is a privacy-first app that helps people manage social anxiety and build communication skills, keeping sensitive data on the user's device.

Read the Morgan State story
Featured Event Student achievement 2025

The inaugural HBCU Brain Drone Race

See all 18 photos on Flickr → Event website ↗
A team member fitting a brain-computer interface headset on a seated racer while spectators look on
A racer is fitted with a brain-computer interface headset.
A small quadcopter drone hovering above a race course marked with cones, with seated spectators blurred in the background
A drone in flight, steered by brainwaves alone.
A smiling row of seated racers in blue Brain Drone Racers shirts, with the audience behind them
Racers watch from the front row.
Photos: Morgan State University

Latest news

Showing 39 of 39 items
2026
Student achievement HAX Lab on Instagram

Three HAX Lab students secure Summer 2026 internships

Elijah Ballou joined Noblis as a Unity VR Developer Intern, Osita Odunze joined Prometric as a Quality Assurance Analyst Intern, and Fikewa Akindolire joined Markel as an Information Technology Intern.

Read the article →
HAX Lab graphic congratulating Elijah Ballou, Osita Odunze and Fikewa Akindolire on Summer 2026 internships at Noblis, Prometric and Markel
2026
Media coverage HBCU Buzz

Morgan State Students Win National AI Challenge With Privacy-First App

HBCU Buzz highlighted Team HAX Lab's first-place finish and $35,000 grand prize at the 2026 PROPEL Center Future of Tech Innovation Challenge with SocialSense AI.

Screenshot of an HBCU Buzz Instagram post showing the four members of Team HAX Lab with the headline Morgan State students win national AI challenge with privacy-first app, alongside the post caption and comments
2026
Student achievement Morgan State University News

They Built the Future—and Won: Morgan Students Capture National AI Innovation Title

Four HAX Lab students took first place among HBCU teams at the 2026 PROPEL Center Future of Tech Innovation Challenge with SocialSense AI, winning the $35,000 grand prize.

Read the article →
The four members of Team HAX Lab smiling outdoors beside a tall table with a block-stacking game, wearing Future of Tech student badges
2026
Media coverage Black Enterprise

Propelling Toward the Future: HBCU Students Design AI-powered Solutions

Coverage of the PROPEL Center's inaugural Future of Tech Innovation Challenge, where Morgan State's HAX Lab team won first place and $35,000.

Read the article →
2026
Media coverage The Hype Magazine

HBCU Students Take Center Stage at PROPEL Center's Future of Tech Challenge

Seventy finalists from 17 HBCUs presented AI-powered solutions at the national finals in Austin, Texas. Morgan State won first place.

Read the article →
2026
Student achievement Morgan State University

Clyde Tandjong named 2026 Student Innovator of the Year

Morgan State University named Clyde Tandjong its 2026 Student Innovator of the Year. The award recognizes a student or group of students whose innovation has had a positive impact on the university, community, or state, or contributed to a new Morgan innovation.

An award recipient in a burgundy blazer holding a crystal trophy, standing between two men in suits in front of an Innovator of the Year awards screen
2026
Award Morgan State University

Dr. Naja A. Mack named 2026 Instructional Innovator of the Year

Morgan State University named Dr. Naja A. Mack its 2026 Instructional Innovator of the Year. The award recognizes a faculty member who has developed or effectively implemented an innovative approach to instruction, or delivered innovative instructional content, to improve student learning outcomes.

Dr. Naja A. Mack holding a crystal Innovator of the Year trophy, standing between two men in suits in front of the awards screen
2026
Media coverage US Black Engineer and Information Technology

Drones at the Forefront: Breaking New Ground in Aerospace and AI

A feature that includes the inaugural HBCU Brain Drone Race, where participants flew drones using only their minds.

Read the article →
2026
Event CEAMLS, Morgan State University

HAX Lab leads the poster session at the 2026 CEAMLS N-SEA Symposium

HAX Lab members ran the poster session at the Center for Equitable AI and Machine Learning Systems' N-SEA Symposium, coordinated by Dr. Mack.

Eight HAX Lab members, most in blue Morgan State shirts, smiling from behind a registration table set with laptops and folders
2026
Student achievement Morgan State University

First place at the Spring into Research Poster Competition

Elijah Ballou and Zori Greene took first place in Morgan State University's Spring into Research Poster Competition.

Elijah Ballou and Zori Greene standing against a white wall, each holding a plaque for Outstanding Poster Presentation in Computer Science and Mathematics from Morgan State University's 31st Annual Undergraduate and Graduate Research Symposium, April 2026
2025
Event Student achievement HAX Lab

Morgan State hosts the inaugural HBCU Brain Drone Race

The HAX Lab hosted the first HBCU Brain Drone Race in the University Student Center Ballroom, where racers flew drones using only their brainwaves. More than 200 people attended.

Read the article →
A HAX Lab team member fitting a brain-computer interface headset on a seated racer beside the race lane, with racers in numbered blue shirts watching from the foreground
2025
Media coverage US Black Engineer and Information Technology

Campus News: AI, drones, and historic building materials

A preview of the inaugural HBCU Brain Drone Race, hosted by the HAX Lab under Dr. Naja A. Mack.

Read the article →
2025
Award Technical.ly

RealLIST Innovators 2025: Meet 15 technologists driving Maryland's innovations

Dr. Naja A. Mack is named a RealLIST Innovators 2025 honoree for Maryland.

Read the article →
Collage of Technical.ly's RealLIST Innovators 2025 coverage: a short profile of Naja Mack, the article headline, and a graphic naming her a 2025 Maryland honoree
2025
Student achievement HAX Lab

Four HAX Lab researchers land Summer 2025 internships

Amyra Harry and Osita Odunze interned at John Hancock, Jaunel Panton at Bank of America, and Clyde Tandjong at Bloomberg.

HAX Lab graphic announcing Summer 2025 internship placements for Amyra Harry and Osita Odunze at John Hancock, Jaunel Panton at Bank of America and Clyde Tandjong at Bloomberg
2025
Event CHI 2025, Yokohama, Japan

HAX Lab students make their first international trip to present at CHI 2025

Dr. Mack and HAX Lab researchers traveled to Yokohama, Japan, to present "Revolutionizing Culturally Relevant Math Education Through AI and Co-Designing Strategies" at the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing. Student co-authors: Clyde Tandjong, Michael Adeleke, Elijah Ballou, Amyra Harry, and Jaunel Panton. It was the students' first international trip.

HAX Lab members posing with a costumed Goofy character in a sunny plaza lined with Italian-style buildings during the trip to Japan
2025
Grant National Science Foundation

Dr. Mack awarded through the NSF VISION Faculty Fellows Program

The award supports a visiting research appointment from January through August 2025.

2025
Student achievement Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing

Osita Odunze places second in the Tapia undergraduate poster competition

Osita Odunze earned second place in the undergraduate poster competition at the 2025 CMD-IT/ACM Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference.

Osita Odunze smiling and holding his Tapia Poster Competition Undergraduate 2nd Place certificate
2022 – 2025
Award Morgan State University

Dr. Mack awarded the PowerLIVE Faculty/Staff Award

Dr. Mack is awarded the prestigious PowerLIVE Faculty/Staff Award for her unwavering commitment to student academic success and well-being. She received the award in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.

A gold-framed plaque reading Student Impact Award, for your dedication to student success at Morgan State University, PowerLIVE 25, March 14, 2025
2024
Event Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing

HAX Lab at the 2024 Tapia Conference

Lab members traveled together to the Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference.

Eleven HAX Lab members in matching navy and orange polos standing in front of the Tapia 2024 conference check-in desks
2024
Event STARS Computing Corps

HAX Lab at STARS Celebration 2024

Lab members took part in the STARS Computing Corps' STARS Celebration.

Ten HAX Lab members smiling in a group selfie in front of a STARS Computing Corps banner
2024
Student achievement Emerging Researchers National Conference

Poster presentation at the 2024 Emerging Researchers National Conference

Vincent Ingram presented the poster "Revolutionize Your Studying: Prodigy Assistant's Comprehensive Solution," co-authored with Dr. Mack.

A student in a navy Morgan State polo standing with arms crossed beside a research poster titled Revolutionize Your Studying: Prodigy Assistant's Comprehensive Solution
2024
Student achievement Emerging Researchers National Conference

Research talk at the 2024 Emerging Researchers National Conference

A HAX Lab researcher gave an oral presentation of lab work at ERN 2024.

A presenter at a podium gesturing toward a projected slide while an audience watches from round tables
2024
Student achievement HAX Lab

Five HAX Lab researchers secure 2024 internships

Elijah Ballou interned at the University of Florida, Abdul Kanu at the University of Utah, Andrew Kelly at Battelle, Osita Odunze at the University of Alabama, and Clyde Tandjong at Bloomberg.

HAX Lab graphic congratulating Elijah Ballou, Abdul Kanu, Andrew Kelly, Osita Odunze and Clyde Tandjong on internships at the University of Florida, University of Utah, Battelle, University of Alabama and Bloomberg
2024
Grant Google and Transform Morgan

New support for CodeBears and MathWiz

Google and Transform Morgan fund CodeBears, and Google funds MathWiz.

2024
Student achievement ACM SIGCSE Technical Symposium, Portland, OR

Five students co-author a full paper at ACM SIGCSE

Michael B. Adeleke, Elijah Ballou, Destiny Davis, Vincent Ingram, and Katlyn Cox are co-authors of "Breaking Stereotypes and Feeding the STEM Pipeline."

Five HAX Lab members in matching navy polos standing under the welcome banner of the 55th SIGCSE Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education
2024
Student achievement Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing

Michael Adeleke places third in the Tapia ACM Student Research Competition

Michael Adeleke earned third place in the undergraduate category of the ACM Student Research Competition at the Richard Tapia conference for "CodeBears: Breaking Stereotypes and Feeding the STEM Pipeline."

Michael Adeleke holding his certificate in front of a screen announcing him as the third-place undergraduate winner of the ACM Student Research Competition
2024
Student achievement BE Smart Hackathon

Best Technical Solution at the BE Smart Hackathon

Michael Adeleke, Abdul Kanu, Andrew Kelly, Osita Odunze, and Clyde Tandjong won Best Technical Solution.

Five students holding award folders on stage in front of a Black Enterprise BE Smart Hackathon screen
2024
Student achievement MSU HackAI

First place at MSU HackAI

Amyra Harry, Andrew Kelly, Osita Odunze, and Clyde Tandjong took first place.

2024
Student achievement MSU HackAI

Second place at MSU HackAI

Ifechukwudeni Oweh took second place.

2024
Student achievement Morgan TechFest

Second place at the Morgan TechFest Research Symposium

Abdul Kanu and Eric Void, Jr. took second place and a $1,200 prize.

Two students holding an oversized second-place check for $1,200 in front of a Morgan TechFest backdrop
2023
Grant Morgan State University News

Morgan State Researchers to Collaborate in New NSF-Funded Institute for the Study of Trustworthy and Ethical Artificial Intelligence

Morgan State joins TRAILS, a $20 million NSF-funded institute led by the University of Maryland. Dr. Mack is one of three Morgan researchers on the team.

Read the article →
2023
Student achievement Lincoln Financial Group codeLinc Hackathon

Second place at the codeLinc Hackathon

Team Future Innovators, with Hanan Ayodeji, Elijah Ballou, Katlyn Cox, and Terell Reed, took second place and a $2,000 prize.

Eleven people, most in codeLinc shirts, standing together in front of Lincoln Financial Group and Morgan State banners
2023
Student achievement HAX Lab

Four HAX Lab researchers secure Summer 2023 internships

Shaimeira Meekins interned at MITRE, Terell Reed at the University of Florida, and Vincent Ingram and Michael Adeleke at the University of Alabama.

HAX Lab graphic congratulating summer interns Shaimeira Meekins at MITRE, Terell Reed at the University of Florida, and Vincent Ingram and Michael Adeleke at the University of Alabama
2023
Student achievement Emerging Researchers National Conference

Shaimeira Meekins wins first place in the ERN poster competition

Shaimeira Meekins took first place in the undergraduate computer science poster category at the 2023 Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM.

Certificate from the 2023 Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM recognizing Shaimeira Meekins of Morgan State University for 1st place, undergraduate poster in computer science
2023
Student achievement Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing

Elijah Ballou places second in the Tapia undergraduate poster competition

Elijah Ballou earned second place in the undergraduate poster competition at the 2023 CMD-IT/ACM Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference for "Have a Heart: VR for Homelessness Education and Empathy."

Tapia 2023 slide announcing the undergraduate poster competition second-place winner: Elijah Ballou, Morgan State University, for Have a Heart: VR for Homelessness Education and Empathy
2023
Student achievement Morgan TechFest

Elijah Ballou wins first place at the Morgan TechFest Research Symposium

Elijah Ballou took first place at the Morgan TechFest Research Symposium.

A student raising a prize box above his head beside an oversized first-place check, under a slide announcing Elijah Ballou as first place winner
2023
Student achievement Morgan TechFest

Michael Adeleke wins second place at the Morgan TechFest Research Symposium

Michael Adeleke took second place and a $500 prize.

Two people holding an oversized second-place check for $500 under a slide announcing Michael Adeleke as second place winner
2023
Student achievement BE Smart Hackathon

Best Technical Solution at the BE Smart Hackathon

Michael Adeleke, Vincent Ingram, Andrew Kelly, Clyde Tandjong, and Terell Reed won Best Technical Solution.

Five students in matching green BE Smart Hackathon hoodies holding white prize bags, standing behind a table with a Morgan State University sign
2023
Student achievement HBCU Game Jam

Most Technically Challenging Game at the inaugural HBCU Game Jam

Elijah Ballou, Bocar Jallow Jr., Saad Nadeem, and Isaiah Scott won the Most Technically Challenging Game Award for "Shadow's Obsession: The Vault of History."

Four students laughing together in front of a stage screen showing the game title Shadow's Obsession: The Vault of History, flanked by blue and green balloons