Several Indian-American students were honoured at the White House on Tuesday, 9 June as First Lady Melania Trump recognised national champions of the inaugural Presidential AI Challenge, a nationwide competition that drew more than 20,000 participants from across the United States and beyond. The event marked the first time the White House has hosted a dedicated student artificial intelligence competition of this scale.

Indian-Origin Winners and Their Projects

Among the celebrated teams was a five-member group from Aldie, Virginia, whose project — the 'Friendzone Chatbot Bullying Prevention App' — claimed the top prize in the Elementary School Track 2 category. The team comprised Aarna Jaiswal, Eshani Khatri, Riva Madda, Samhitha Pinnamareddy, and Sanuli Rathnayake.

At the middle school level, Viha Iyer, Arya Pratap, and Shrimayi Shetty of NorthStar Middle School in Sammamish, Washington, won the Middle School Track 1 category with their project 'SkillUp', designed to build practical skills through AI-driven learning.

In the high school division, Khandakar Mahin of Upper Darby Senior High School in Pennsylvania won the High School Track 1 title for his project, 'Utilising Computer Vision for Hotel Room Identification in Criminal Investigations'. Organisers noted that Mahin is set to graduate from high school this week and will attend Harvard University in the autumn.

What Melania Trump Said at the Ceremony

Speaking at the awards ceremony, First Lady Melania Trump praised the student innovators and framed the competition as a statement of national ambition. 'It is wonderful to see this very impressive group of innovators at the White House. I'm proud that you represent the best of America. You are our future,' she said.

She also highlighted the competition's sweeping reach: 'The first Presidential AI Challenge was broadly welcomed across our nation. More than 20,000 students participated across all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 49 Department of War schools in 10 countries around the world.' She urged participants to 'continue to build boldly' and help 'safeguard America's leading position in the world of technology.'

Scope of the Challenge and Winning Themes

According to the White House, winning projects addressed a broad spectrum of real-world challenges — spanning education, bullying prevention, criminal investigations, accessibility for visually impaired people, and urban development. The competition drew entries from all 50 US states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Department of Defence schools overseas. Two educator champion teams from North Carolina and New Jersey were also recognised. Following the ceremony, participants attended a reception in the White House Rose Garden.

Broader Context: AI, Education Policy, and Indian-Americans in STEM

The Presidential AI Challenge reflects a broader US policy push to embed AI literacy into mainstream education as Washington seeks to maintain its competitive edge in advanced technologies. Policymakers have increasingly prioritised AI skills development among students as competition with other global powers intensifies.

Notably, Indian-Americans have long held a prominent position in the US technology sector, leading major companies, research institutions, and start-ups. Their strong representation among the inaugural winners underscores the growing role of Indian-origin students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education across the United States. This is the first such nationally recognised platform to spotlight that contribution at the White House level.