A Worcester student took top honors in a technology competition at Clark University after developing a platform aimed at making computer science concepts easier to understand.
According to a university announcement, Sumanth Aitham, a master’s student in computer science, won first place in Clark’s Tech Innovation Challenge 2.0, a six-week competition that brought together students from multiple colleges and universities to develop and pitch technology-based solutions.
More than 30 teams registered for the competition, with 20 advancing to final presentations held on Clark’s campus April 30. Projects addressed topics ranging from artificial intelligence and civic engagement to enterprise software and productivity tools.
Aitham’s winning project, LeetMotion, is a visual learning platform designed to help students understand algorithms through interactive animations rather than traditional text-based instruction.
The idea grew out of Aitham’s own experience transitioning into software engineering from a mechanical engineering background. According to the university, he found that many students struggled with technical interview preparation because algorithms are often taught through static explanations rather than visual demonstrations.
The platform allows users to visualize concepts such as dynamic programming, sliding windows, stacks and pointer movement in real time. It also includes an AI-powered mock interview assistant called Argos, along with spaced-repetition learning tools and a browser extension that integrates with coding exercises.
Clark said Aitham launched the platform’s core features during the challenge and attracted active users while receiving strong early feedback.
The competition highlighted student innovation and entrepreneurship while connecting participants with faculty mentors, technology professionals and industry judges.
Other top finishers included Smith College student Clare Njoroge, whose civic engagement platform CLICK earned second place, and Clark student Harsha Vardhan Varma Kopanathi, whose AI-powered assistant Siyona took third.
Founded in 1887, Clark University is a research university in Worcester offering undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs.
Have a story tip, community concern, or insight to share? Email Editor Charlene Arsenault at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org.
The Worcester Guardian is a nonprofit newsroom serving Central Massachusetts. Help keep independent reporting alive by making a donation today.
