Bowie State University students are taking their data skills to the next level this year as they join the third annual FICO® Educational Analytics Challenge, a national program that puts Historically Black Colleges & Universities at the center of artificial intelligence (AI) innovation. Working alongside students from Delaware State University, Morehouse College and Alabama A&M University, Bowie State participants will spend the school year designing AI language models that address real-world business challenges while gaining mentorship from industry leaders.

The challenge is more than a competition; it is a direct pipeline into the kinds of skills that employers want most. Each week, FICO®'s team of data scientists, led by Chief Analytics Officer Dr. Scott Zoldi, shares insight into how advanced technologies such as neural networks and transformers power the tools used every day. Students build on their classroom learning in a hands-on setting, preparing for careers where AI is reshaping the future of work.

This year's challenge launched at Bowie State, where Dr. Zoldi came to campus to personally kick off Year Three. Bowie State had the honor of being the first university to host the opening of this national initiative, underscoring the university's leadership in advancing AI innovation across HBCUs.

Bowie State has been steadily building a strong culture of data science. The Department of Technology and Security's Master of Science in Internet of Things and Internet Technologies (MS ITIT) equips students with workforce-ready data analytics skills, while the Computer Science Department offers a Certificate in Data Analytics. The Business Center of Data Analytics also contributes to this ecosystem, underscoring how data science and analytics are interdisciplinary across campus.

Student engagement is equally strong. The Department of Technology & Security supports two undergraduate student groups: the HBCU-DSC Data Science Student Ambassadors (DSSA), nationally sponsored by the HBCU Data Science Consortium, and the Collegiate Chapter of the BDPA. Last fall, more than 50 students attended a FICO® lecture series with Dr. Zoldi, and nine students went on to compete in the challenge as three separate teams. Their efforts continue a growing tradition, with Bowie State students previously participating in FICO® Challenge Year 2and FICO® Challenge Year 1.

This year's focus on AI language models takes the experience a step further and positions Bowie State students at the forefront of one of the fastest-growing areas in technology. By blending classroom learning with industry mentorship, the program ensures graduates leave with both the technical know-how and the ethical framework needed to shape the future of AI. For alumni, faculty, staff and friends of Bowie State, the challenge highlights the university's commitment to innovation and opportunity, showing that Bowie State is not only preparing students for tomorrow's jobs but also helping them create the future of technology itself.