Top honor further solidifies CLAOC’s mission to develop OC as a tech talent hub
Orange County, Calif. – Oct. 17, 2022 — To develop the next generation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and tech-focused talent, CEO Leadership Alliance of Orange County (CLAOC) is pleased to announce its student team, co-sponsored by Coastline ROP and hailing from Tustin Unified School District (TUSD) and Irvine Unified School Districts (IUSD), as winners in the Intel® AI Global Impact Festival – an annual Digital Readiness celebration for next generation technologists and teachers to showcase AI innovation and impact.
Suhina Chand, Mahita Adluri (TUSD), and Keyon Jazayeri (IUSD) took home the top honor as the “US country-winner – AI Impact Creator” award in the 13-18 years category. Their project titled: “Noted! – Scanner, Transcriber, and AI Sorting Technology ” was created this summer during CLAOC’s Careers in AI program, designed in partnership with the OC Department of Education and Intel’s AI for Workforce program, and delivered by Coastline ROP. Each student will be receiving a $1,000 cash award from Intel.
Additionally, Abhishek Rao (IUSD) has been selected for the Country/Region/Territory Recognition award for the United States of America in the Impact Creators for the 13-18 years category for the project titled “Asteroid Mining with CV.” A $500 cash award will be given for this honor.
CLAOC will host an awards ceremony for the winning students on Thursday, October 20.
“The Careers in AI program has helped me explore new avenues and become interested in artificial intelligence. I can proudly say that this program has encouraged me as a girl to be less intimidated by STEM and computer science,” Chand said. “This program gives you multiple resources to help you take your concept to full fruition…and it [program] exceptionally clarified what AI could do for our future.”
Careers in AI introduces students to careers in the field of Artificial Intelligence. Students explore the area of artificial intelligence and how it is used across a variety of industries.
“As purposeful leaders in Orange County, CLAOC contributes to the region’s growth by building a deep and diverse talent pool to attract AI-infused innovation industries,” said Amy Kaufman, Senior Vice President at CLAOC. “With a clear focus on racial and gender diversity, CLAOC unites civic and business leaders, AI-focused entrepreneurs, and education organizations to cultivate and recruit the diverse talent needed now, and in the future, to support a robust AI-infused economy in OC.”
Careers in AI partners include Coastline ROP, Medtronic, Chapman University, Ephesoft, Chandler-Gilbert Community College, California State University-Fullerton, Santa Ana College, AI for Good, and NVIDIA.
Earlier this year, CLAOC announced a collaboration with NVIDIA, Chapman University, Trace3, and Run: AI to establish the nation’s first community-focused AI supercomputer. NVIDIA has pledged a DGX-2 system that will be installed at Chapman University. It will be the first of its capability governed by local community stakeholders, with priority access granted to local AI upskilling and education efforts who apply for usage.
A recent Edscoop survey of higher education leaders and IT decision-makers found that 69% of all respondents sensed increasing demand from employers for graduates with AI technical skills. These are the skills that CLAOC is fostering in OC.
“The next-generation workforce will need specialized training like the Careers in AI to develop solutions to the world’s greatest challenges, and community colleges have a huge role to play in unleashing innovative thinking,” said Carlos Contreras, Senior Director of AI and Digital Readiness at Intel. “With CLAOC’s effort in creating an OC tech talent hub, initiatives like this will further push this closer to a reality.”
About CLAOC
CLAOC is a not-for-profit membership organization of CEOs from some of the region’s most prominent public and private companies committed to leading change. CLAOC’s mission is to collaborate to cultivate Orange County into a premier, inclusive, innovative talent hub. The group’s organizational priorities include creating an AI Talent Lab that brings civic and business leaders, AI-focused entrepreneurs, and education organizations to cultivate and recruit the diverse talent needed now and in the future to support a robust AI-driven economy in OC. The AI Talent Lab will be the premier source of talent cultivation, providing OC residents the opportunity to build and flourish in AI-infused careers. Through this strategy, the group hopes to create a well-defined talent pipeline and promote a thriving local economy and environment for the region.
CLAOCs members include Edwards Lifesciences, Johnson & Johnson, EY, City of Hope Orange County, Pacific Life, PIMCO, Skyworks, Golden State Foods, Ingram Micro, and a host of others working strategically to help others succeed.
More information about CLAOC is available at www.claoc.org.