Aurora elementary students win state AI title; advance to regional Presidential AI Challenge
Eva Gupta, Samarth Sehgal, Avik Tiwari, and Anya Dua, students at Brooks Elementary School in Aurora, have been named Illinois state winners of the Presidential AI Challenge. They will be advancing to the regional competition with their innovative project, Project GUIDE.
The Presidential AI Challenge is a national initiative that encourages students to explore artificial intelligence through real-world problem solving, innovation, and responsible design.
As Illinois state winners, the team will now compete at the regional level. Top-performing teams will advance to the national stage, where finalists may be invited to present their work in Washington, D.C., at national showcase events associated with the White House. This year, over 500 students have been named state champions. Twenty-five students from Illinois will be competing in the regional competition.
Project GUIDE
Developed under the supervision of Saral Gupta, Project GUIDE (Growth, Understanding, Inclusion & Digital Empowerment), introduces a student-designed AI system that supports both personalized learning and calmer classroom environments.
Unlike traditional educational tools that focus primarily on grading or testing, GUIDE focuses on how students learn and how classrooms feel — helping students stay engaged, supported, and confident throughout the school day.
“We see students struggle quietly sometimes, or lose focus when classrooms get noisy,” the team shared. “We wanted to build something that helps students learn better and feel more comfortable in class.”
GUIDE works as a supportive assistant that helps teachers and students in real time. It is built on two key ideas:
AI-powered personalized learning
GUIDE analyzes student work patterns to identify learning gaps early and suggests: extra support for students who are behind; simpler explanations when needed; enrichment challenges for advanced learners; and actionable insights for teachers to adjust instruction.
Environmental AI for calmer classrooms
GUIDE uses decibel-level sensing (not recording) to understand classroom noise and provides gentle visual cues to help students self-regulate — without interruptions or discipline.
“It’s like having a helper in the background,” one student explained. “It helps when you need it, but the teacher is always in control.”
Privacy first, responsible AI
A core principle of Project GUIDE is its commitment to responsible AI.
The system is designed with: no audio or video recording; no storage of personal student data; no identification or tracking of individual students; and fully teacher-controlled settings
GUIDE uses simple, explainable AI models to ensure transparency and trust while maintaining effectiveness.
Designed by students, for students
What makes GUIDE unique is that it was created by students who experience these challenges every day.
The project aims to: reduce early learning gaps before they grow; improve focus and reduce classroom stress; increase student confidence and independence; and help teachers support diverse learning needs more effectively.