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SUSD Students Capture State Title in Presidential AI Challenge

SUSD Students Capture State Title in Presidential AI Challenge

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (April 14, 2026) — Three students from Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) are making waves in the world of innovation, after capturing the Arizona Track I High School state title in the prestigious Presidential AI Challenge.

Arnav Hingorani, Lukas Burgan, and Levi Gerken, guided by Desert Mountain Science Teacher Michael Knight, rose above more than 2,500 submissions nationwide with their standout project, Artificial Intelligence Recognition (AIR). Their work earned them a place among just 328 state-level winners, advancing them to the highly competitive regional round.

The Presidential AI Challenge, a nationwide initiative, empowers K–12 students and educators to design cutting-edge artificial intelligence solutions that address real-world community challenges, while promoting responsible and ethical AI use.

At the forefront of that mission is the team’s project, Artificial Intelligence Recognition (AIR), a bold and forward-thinking response to the growing issue of AI misuse in education. Developed in collaboration with SUSD administrators, teachers, and students, AIR introduces a scalable, cost-effective framework to guide responsible AI integration in schools.

“Artificial Intelligence Recognition (AIR) was developed based on the new artificial intelligence policy work we’ve been doing in SUSD with administrators, teachers, and fellow students,” shared Arnav Hingorani, a junior at Desert Mountain High School. “It outlines clear guidelines for appropriate AI use in education.”

Lukas Burgan, another junior at Desert Mountain High School, highlighted the project’s practical impact, “Our proposal not only creates a framework, but also provides a roadmap for successful implementation, making it accessible and effective for districts like ours.”

Levi Gerken, also a junior at Desert Mountain High School, emphasized the driving force behind their work, “AI misuse in learning is one of the most prevalent challenges in our community. AIR was designed to directly address that issue and turn it into an opportunity for responsible innovation.”

Established under Executive Order 14277 and signed on April 23, 2025, the Presidential AI Challenge encourages the next generation of leaders to harness the power of AI for meaningful change.

As state champions, the Desert Mountain team will take the virtual stage in the regional competition, presenting their project live to a panel of judges and competing against top teams from across the western United States.

These innovators will receive national recognition, including official certificates issued by the White House later this year.

From classroom collaboration to statewide recognition, these students are proving that innovation, purpose, and passion can come together to shape the future, one breakthrough at a time.

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About the Scottsdale Unified School District
With around  20,000 students in all SUSD schools, the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) has been a premier choice for pre-kindergarten through grade 12 public education for 128 years. Located northeast of metropolitan Phoenix, the District serves the educational needs of students and families in Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, Tempe and Scottsdale. A highly experienced, professionally certified teaching staff fosters a diverse and rigorous educational environment that engages all students in world-class, future-focused learning. Offering gifted learning, special education, career and technical education, and a variety of athletics, arts and enrichment programs and clubs, SUSD provides the rich environment today’s students need to explore their interests, develop important social skills and grow into tomorrow’s leaders. For more information, visit www.susd.org and follow along on social media: Facebook: @ScottsdaleUSD, Instagram: @ScottsdaleUnifiedSD, LinkedIn and YouTube.