AI Opportunities for Students from the AI Learning Lab

The AI Learning Lab is launching new opportunities for students in the 2025-2026 schol year. Check out two opportunities for the fall semester: the AI student Innovation Competition at our OMAxAI event at Kaneko, and the ChatGPT x Students Pilot Program (coming soon).

AI Student Innovation Competition

Showcase Your Vision. Shape the Future.

Calling all UNO students! Here’s your chance to shine in the AI Student Innovation Competition at the OMAxAI event. Whether you’re in engineering, business, art, science, education, or any other discipline—if you have an idea for using artificial intelligence to make a real impact in your field, we want to see it! Showcase how artificial intelligence will transform your career path, impress Omaha metro employers, and compete to be the grand prize winner.

• Who: Open to UNO students of any academic standing, across all departments. You may enter as an individual or form teams of up to 4 members.
• What: Prepare a 5 to 7-minute demonstration showing how you would apply AI and the benefits it brings in your field
• When: October 7, from 3:00- 4:00pm
• Where: OMAxAI event at Kaneko
• Prize: $1,000 scholarship prize for 1^st place, $600 for 2^nd place, and $400 for 3^rd

Brief Process overview:

1. Prepare Your Proposal – Craft a compelling proposal (max 750 words) that describes your future career path, how you envision using AI to innovate within it, and how it could revolutionize the field. Focus on practical applications and potential impact
2. Supporting Materials – Enhance your submission with prototypes, mockups, storyboards, or demo videos that illustrate your vision for AI in your field (NOTE: this should be something you include as a part of your presentation).
3. Submit your proposal - Complete the application form, upload your materials, and submit before September 19^th.
4. Proposal Review – A panel of UNO Faculty and Staff will review submissions and select the 5 most innovative student proposals. Those selected for final presentations will be notified by Monday, September 29.
5. Final Presentations – The top 5 proposals will present to a panel of judges on October 7^th as finalists for the prize.

Students who plan to submit a proposal may have access to ChatGPT Edu to help. Consider applying for the ChatGPT x Students Pilot Program to retain access throughout the semester. For more details, check out the information below.

Competition Overview

Our first annual AI Student Innovation Competition takes place during our OMAxAI event on October 7^th. This competition is designed to celebrate and highlight how the next generation envisions using artificial intelligence in their careers. We’re looking for bold ideas that demonstrate how AI tools and technologies will revolutionize your chosen field.

This competition should inspire students from all disciplines, whether you’re studying art, business, healthcare, computer science, or anything in-between. You don’t need to be a coding expert of AI specialist to participate. What matters is your vision for how AI can transform your future profession.

Students will have until September 19 to submit their proposal.

Who Can Enter?

Any Student: Any UNO student of any academic standing is welcome to submit a proposal. We strongly encourage applications from students in all academic tracks.

Team Participation: Students may enter individually or form teams of up to 4 members. Teams can be interdisciplinary or include students from different schools and education levels, encouraging diverse perspectives (Note: teams will split the award if chosen to win).

How to Enter

Prepare Your Proposal: Craft a compelling proposal (maximum 750 words) that describes your future career path, how you envision using AI to innovate within it, and how you believe it can be revolutionary in your field. Focus on practical applications and potential impact.

Supporting Materials: Enhance your submission with prototypes, mockups, storyboards, or demo videos that illustrate your concept. Clarity of vision and demonstrating AI's benefit in the different fields is top priority.

Submit by September 19^th: Complete the online application form, upload your materials, and submit before the deadline. A panel of experts will review submissions, and the 5 best proposals will present to a panel of judges on October 7^th during the OMAxAI event.

Judging Criteria

Creativity & Innovation: How original is your idea? Does it present a new approach or apply AI in unexpected ways? Judges look for submissions that think beyond conventional applications.

Potential Impact: Will your concept make a meaningful difference in your chosen field? Proposals are evaluated on their potential to solve real problems or create new opportunities.

Technical Feasibility: Could your idea reasonably be implemented with current or near-future AI capabilities? While visionary thinking is encouraged, concepts should have a path to reality.

Clear Communication: How effectively do you explain your concept? Judges value well-structured proposals and presentations that clearly document your development process and decision-making.

Benefits of Participating

• Real-World Skill Development: Gain hands-on experience with generative AI tools. Practice innovation, problem-solving and build skill that employers are looking for.
• Career Boost: Stand out to local employers and boost your resume.
• Win a Scholarship Prize: Top spots win a scholarship of $1,000 for 1^st place, $600 for 2^nd place, and $400 for 3^rd

Important Dates

Initial Submission Deadline: September 19, 2025

Final Presentations: 3:00-4:00pm on October 7, 2025, at the OMAxAI event hosted at Kaneko

Questions? Contact Cassie Mallette, Program Manager of the AI Learning Lab @ cassiemallette@unomaha.edu

ChatGPT x Students Program (coming soon)

At UNO, we’ve partnered with OpenAI to provide licenses to ChatGPT EDU to faculty, staff and students. Now that we have a year under our belt, we’re launching our ChatGPT x Students pilot program to build skills in our students and to better understand how AI can be helpful to students in their studies. Interested in participating in our ChatGPT x Students pilot program and getting hands on experience with GenAI tools? Apply today!

Who can apply?

Any graduate or undergraduate student who is

• Eager to experiment with AI coursework and will dedicate time each week to explore
• Strong desire to gain hands-on experience using AI tools like ChatGPT
• Open to sharing honest feedback about their experiences

NOTE: students will need at least one faculty or staff member to write a recommendation letter on their behalf, explaining why they are a good fit for exploring AI in their studies and/or should be approved for the pilot program.

Students who apply and are approved for ChatGPT EDU access will have access starting (time is still TBD) and will have the ability to:

• Use AI to study and breakdown concepts
• Create custom GPTs for personalized support
• Use the projects feature
• And more

All students with access must agree to:

• Complete the Generative AI Cybersecurity training
• Use AI in accordance with each course policy.
• Complete a monthly check-in on how they are using AI and how it is helping them
• Potentially present on how they have been using AI at our spring AI Summit

NOTE: Failure to follow through on these student participation expectations will result in the student being removed from the ChatGPT Edu environment.

Application process

Spots are limited! Apply early for a higher chance of getting approved. Students who apply will need to include:

• Name (first and last):
• UNO email address:
• Year in school:
• A brief description of why you want to join
• A brief explanation of how they plan to use AI in their studies
• A brief explanation on what they hope to gain from the pilot
• At least one recommendation letter from a UNO faculty or staff member, explaining why they are a good fit for exploring AI in their studies and/or should be approved for the pilot program
• Agree to the expectations for student participation

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