Honors College Challenge Day is a group competition to propose solutions for real-world problems experienced by our partners.
Northrop Grumman is an aerospace and defense government contracting corporation, which includes weapons manufacturing and military technology development. So What Else provides access to food security, necessities, and extracurricular activities for families and children in the D.C./Baltimore area.
In response to the issue of no centralized communications systems for Northrop Grumman employees, the group proposed “Grumm-Bot,” a user-friendly AI chatbot that would schedule meetings, direct users, write emails, and more.
One of the group's members, Leticia Nunez Nova, expressed how vital effective collaboration was to the team's success. "I learned that team communication and organization is key. I don't think we would've been able to win the track if it wasn't for everyone in our group. Everyone was in sync and committed to creating a comprehensive solution."
So What Else wants to motivate college students to volunteer with them, so the group proposed a multiphase plan, including altering the website and hosting more engagement events with local universities.
Caroline Castagna emphasized the valuable experience Honors College students gain from such events. "Honors College Challenge Day absolutely contributed to my professional development. It gave me the opportunity to practice my skills in a real-world professional setting and gave me the opportunity to network with like-minded students and professionals."