Regent University Institute for Technology Innovation Hosts First-Ever AI Build Challenge

July 1, 2026

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (July 1, 2026) — Regent University’s Institute for Technology Innovation (ITI) hosted its first-ever AI Build Challenge in collaboration with the AI Collective Hampton Roads Chapter, an event designed to make AI development accessible to all, from seasoned developers to first-time builders.

The event spanned two weeks, opening with an in-person kickoff on campus on June 4 and concluding with an in-person presentation and awards ceremony on June 18. Unlike traditional hackathons, which typically require software developers to build projects in a single intensive session, the AI Build Challenge used a hybrid model in which participants of all levels worked independently or in teams on their own schedules before returning to campus for final presentations and judging. The format is the first of its kind offered by both Regent and the AI Collective Hampton Roads Chapter and has already drawn interest from other organizations in the region looking to replicate it.

Working from the theme “Learning & Development,” participants were challenged to build an AI-powered solution that personalizes, accelerates, or transforms how people learn, develop skills, or grow professionally. Regent students, faculty, and staff were all invited to participate alongside members of the broader Hampton Roads community. Suggested focus areas included the following:

Onboarding and skill development
Virtual coaching
Personalized tutoring
Customized learning guides

Throughout the challenge, participants had access to a dedicated event website, a participant resource guide, and a real-time communication channel on Discord where organizers and fellow participants could exchange questions and support. The kickoff event, which included presentations from AI Collective partners Andrew Stafford and Ted Patterson on tools, resources, and strategies for building a minimum viable product, was also recorded for participants to reference throughout the event.

On June 18, 15 teams and individuals presented their projects to a four-person judging panel, which included the following leaders in technology and education:

Andrew Stafford: Co-founder, Your AI Group; Founding Member, The AI Collective Hampton Roads Chapter
Mitzi Fehl-Seward: Assistant Professor, Regent University School of Education
Robbe Addis: Founder, Veterans Forge
Robert Steffler: Chief Technology Officer, ECPI University

Each presenter had five minutes to introduce their application, describe the problem it addressed, explain their use of AI, and demonstrate their solution, followed by questions from the judges. Projects were then scored across a set of categories provided to participants in advance.

Three podium prizes and six merit awards were presented, with $1,000 in total cash prizes distributed among winners. First place was awarded $350, second place $200, and third place $100, with the remaining $350 shared among the merit award recipients. Notable merit award winners from Regent included Simon Tarr, Ph.D., Dean of the Honors College, whose app Honq was developed for the Honors College, and the team of Linda Santiago-King of the Military Resource Center and adjunct faculty member Jeannine Bennett, who built Career Strategist Pro.

“The AI Build Challenge aligns with the Institute for Technology Innovation’s mission to learn emerging technologies, build practical solutions, and lead ethical innovation,” said Jason Baker, Ph.D., Director of the ITI. “The ITI serves as a hub of academic excellence and societal impact, preparing current and future leaders to harness technology innovation to serve humanity in a changing world, and this AI Build Challenge is the type of event that helps fulfill that mission.”

To learn more about Regent University’s Institute for Technology, visit regent.edu/iti.

About Regent University

Founded in 1977, Regent University is America’s premier Christian university, with nearly 14,000 students studying on its 100-acre campus in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and online worldwide. The university offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in more than 150 areas of study, including business, communication and the arts, counseling, cybersecurity, divinity, education, government, law, leadership, nursing, healthcare, and psychology. Regent University has been ranked the No. 1 Best Online Bachelor’s Program in Virginia for 14 years in a row (U.S. News & World Report, 2026) and the No. 2 Top Military Friendly^® School in the nation (Military Friendly^® Schools, 2024-2025).

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