Nov 27 - Nov 29
Thanksgiving Vacation
All Day
Pine Crest Upper School Students Named Florida State Champions in Presidential AI Challenge
April 17th 2026
A team of Pine Crest Upper School students has been named Florida State Champion in the Presidential AI Challenge, advancing to the regional round of competition with the opportunity to compete for a place in the national finals in Washington, D.C.
Team HeadStart, Alejandro Forner Ibanez ’27, Georgia Kolettis ’27, Alexa Marino ’27 and Edward Wang ’27 stood out among more than 2,500 submissions nationwide for their innovative use of artificial intelligence to address a real-world health challenge.
Their project, “HeadStart,” uses machine learning and predictive modeling to help anticipate migraines before they occur. By analyzing baseline physiological data through photoplethysmography (PPG) signals, the team’s wearable device tracks subtle changes in blood flow, heart rate variability and other biometric indicators to detect early patterns associated with migraine onset.
The Presidential AI Challenge highlights student-driven innovation at the intersection of artificial intelligence, data science and real-world problem-solving. Team HeadStart’s work reflects the depth of research, technical skill and entrepreneurial thinking developed through Pine Crest’s academic programs.
As state champions, the team will now advance to the regional competition, where they will compete for a place in the national finals.
Congratulations to Alejandro, Georgia, Alexa and Edward!
.jpg&command_2=resize&height_2=85 "Upper School Student Artist Earns Third Consecutive National Gold Medal in Scholastic Art & Writing")
