Published July 16, 2025
CAPTION: Team “Dristi” from ULM won the third prize of $5,000 at the Nexus Technology Cup.
Pictured L-R: Nexus President and CEO Tony Zanders, ULM student Divya Shah, ULM student Unika Bista,
Nexus Cup Judge Padma Vatsavai, Nexus Cup Judge Dianna Liu, Nexus Cup Judge Angie Jones, ULM Assistant Professor
Dr. Prasanthi Sreekumari
MONROE, LA – The University of Louisiana Monroe Computer Science program recently sent four student
teams to compete in the finals of the Nexus Technology Cup in Baton Rouge on June
17-19, 2025. This event celebrated innovative solutions in sustainability, artificial
intelligence, and infrastructure security developed by student teams from across Louisiana.
“Dristi”, a team including ULM sophomore computer science students Unika Bista and
Divya Shah, was awarded third place at the competition, which included a $5,000 cash
prize.
“Dristi” is a mobile application created by Bista and Shah, under the guidance of
Dr. Prasanthi Sreekumari, Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of the Computer
Science program at ULM. The app uses artificial intelligence (AI) to provide real-time
scene descriptions for visually impaired users, enhancing accessibility and promoting
independence.
The Nexus Technology Cup is a highly competitive event, with over 70 teams submitting
applications. From all applicants, only 21 teams were selected as finalists to participate
in live demonstrations.
Four of the 21 teams were from the ULM Computer Science Program. In addition to “Dristi,”
other ULM teams included “Autism Speaks AI”, featuring Anjan Mandal and Pradeep Poudel,
“DonorSync”, featuring Cecil Pradhan, Rochack Shreshta, and Nobel Timnisha, and “Rhyme
AI”, featuring Abishek Amgain and Dinesh Chhantyal.
“As their faculty advisor and the Coordinator of the ULM Computer Science Program,
I am extremely proud of these students for their hard work, dedication, and commitment
to academic excellence,” said Dr. Sreekumari.
For more information about the ULM Computer Science Program, visit https://www.ulm.edu/cbss/computerscience/program/.
CAPTION: Four teams from the ULM Computer Science program competed in the Nexus Technology
Cup. Pictured L-R, First Row: Rochak Shreshta, Cecil Pradhan, Divya Shah, Unika Bista, Dr. Prasanthi Sreekumari, Nexus Director of Marketing and Communications Na'Tisha Natt, and Nobel Timshina; Second Row: Anjan Mandal, Abhishek Amgain, Nexus President and CEO Tony Zanders, and Pradeep Poudel
