KENNESAW, Ga. | Jun 9, 2025

A team of Kennesaw State University students from the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) chapter earned first place at Bank of America’s 2nd annual Global Technology Code-A-Thon, held at the company’s headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, last month.  

The four-student team – Esmeralda Rangel (Mechatronics Engineering), Ibrahima Gueye, Maryam Baban, and Caleb Nwasike (all Computer Science majors) – first competed in Phase I of the competition here at KSU. They had just seven days to build a full-stack prototype focused on campus innovation and student safety. Out of six competitive teams, SHPE took first place.  

From there, they advanced to Phase II, where they represented KSU on the national stage, competing against top student teams from across the country. Hosted at Bank of America’s technology headquarters, the three-day event included networking sessions, site visits to the company’s Security Operations and Command Center (SOACC) and Global Information Security divisions, and a Metaverse activation workshop.  

To round out the event, KSU’s SHPE team won first place nationally and received the rare distinction of being the only group selected for continued collaboration and patent support for their project from Bank of America.  

“This is a rare and exceptional opportunity, and it speaks to just how revolutionary and impactful our solution is,” said team member Esmeralda Rangel. “This experience validated our skills, boosted our confidence, and gave us a rare look into enterprise-level innovation. It’s opened doors to mentorship, potential startup paths, and long-term opportunities in tech.”

The competition was created specifically for students involved in organizations like SHPE and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), and it aims to uplift underrepresented voices in STEM fields by offering real-world challenges and professional support.  

“Programs like this are critical for empowering future leaders in tech and creating real change in the industry,” said Rangel. “Bank of America didn’t just open doors for us; they invited us in.”

The SHPE team is led by chapter president Cassandra Martinez and supported by their faculty advisor, Dr. Gloria Laureano, senior associate vice president for Student Affairs. 

Story written by Ashlynn Gates. Photos from Maryam Baban.