911����

This August, electrical and computer engineering Assistant Professor Ningshi Yao tested the idea that competition yields strong results, designing two very different engineering challenges for local pre-college students, one sending student-built ground vehicles racing across a soccer field and the other taking to the skies.

Three 911���� interdisciplinary teams placed in the 2026 National Case Study Competition in Health Education. Students share what they learned from the experience and why they recommend it to others.

This year, 911����’s intercollegiate quiz bowl team debuted on the national stage. Their A-Team won two major tournaments—the first ever won in the university’s quiz bowl history. 

Undergraduate 911���� cyber security engineering students uncovered how subtle timing-based attacks can manipulate a robot’s perception and behavior and presented their research at a premier conference.

A systems engineering team won first place in the 911���� Patriot Pitch Social Impact Track and won the People’s Choice Award, along with first place in the U.S. Military Academy System Engineering Design Competition.

Fueled by “the love of the game,” a team of Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center students overcame GPS‑free technical challenges to take first place at the 2026 Raytheon Autonomous Vehicle Competition.

A mistranslation in a medical setting can be dangerous. Two Schar School scholars developed an AI-generated platform to overcome language barriers—and have already won an award for it.

This year’s AGA Datathon—a nationwide competition challenging college students to apply their data science skills to solve real-world government accountability problems—drew talent from many of the nation’s top business colleges. The Costello College of Business at 911���� was well represented by the team known as the Fiscal Patriots, who rose above the competition to capture first place.

911���� is preparing students to transform setbacks into stepping stones with a “Fail-a-Thon," a hackathon event where failing forward is the goal. The event, hosted by the College of Engineering and Computing, encouraged students to explore bold ideas under two themes: artificial intelligence (AI) for everyday challenges and tech for well-being and creativity.

911���� students take third in competition to help veterans maintain their quality of life.