UST's AI and Entrepreneurship Summer Camp: Empowering Future Innovators
High school students at UST's summer camp harness AI for innovation in entrepreneurship.
Key Points
- • UST's AI and Entrepreneurship Summer Camp aimed to blend AI and human potential.
- • High school students learned entrepreneurial skills and pitched company ideas.
- • Team Healthlink won with a healthcare records management app.
- • Dr. Beena George highlighted technology's role in serving communities.
The University of St. Thomas (UST) in Houston, Texas, successfully hosted its AI and Entrepreneurship Summer Camp, known as "Celts Create Startup Camp," which concluded on July 31, 2025. This unique initiative aimed to empower high school students to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and human potential, focusing on teaching them how technology can be harnessed to address real-world challenges and foster community enrichment.
Throughout the camp, students worked closely with UST faculty to develop crucial entrepreneurial skills. They formed teams, collaborated on innovative projects, and learned how to pitch their ideas. Dr. Beena George, a professor of Management and a key figure in the camp, emphasized the initiative's goal: "At Celts Create Startup Camp, we’re not just teaching students how to use AI; we’re helping them imagine how technology can serve people and communities."
The camp culminated with a pitch competition judged by professionals from the Houston entrepreneurial community. Team Healthlink excelled with their healthcare records management app, winning the competition amid strong competition from other teams, including Team Veloframe, Team Errandly, and Team QuestFit. Judges praised students for their impressive creativity and the quality of their presentations, which were crafted in just four days. Dr. George noted the significance of collaboration and confidence in the pitching process, positioning AI as a tool for innovation built on integrity. This camp is part of UST's commitment to nurturing future entrepreneurs through education and community engagement.