Students

iSchool students were among the winners of the 2025 Raymond von Dran (RvD) iPrize and Hunter Brooks Watson Spirit of Entrepreneurship Awards at Syracuse University’s Blackstone LaunchPad. The competitions honor student ventures that show innovation, impact, and entrepreneurial spirit, with each winning team receiving $2,000. iSchool honorees included Anjaneya Sanjay Padwal, Tommy Brown, Celes Buffard, Ziekariba Nonr Diallo, Carolina Aguayo-Pla, and Jase M Malloy.

From stepping onto campus for the first time to immersing herself in hands-on research, mentorship roles, and professional development, Pooja’s experience has been one of growth, exploration, and impact.

Fueled by an entrepreneurial background that ignited his passion for data science, Karan Shah embraced every challenge—from securing on-campus jobs to leading diverse teams and working on impactful machine learning projects.

Shreyansh Goyal shares his journey from computer science to his aspirations in financial analytics, with experiences at the iSchool in client projects, data science research, and guiding new students as a Graduate Ambassador.

Katharine Batista ‘28 follows her passion to the iSchool and finds inspiration from women leaders in the field.

Teams showcased cutting-edge apps and machine learning models in a competition between over 30 teams from Syracuse University.

Purtee Bhise, who earned her Bachelor's degree in India, is now pursuing her Master's in Applied Data Science at the iSchool and becoming actively involved in campus life while navigating her journey as an international student.

Lissette Mitzi Mendez ‘26 worked as an IT intern at PSEG (Public Service Enterprise Group) last summer. She plans to graduate with an Information Management and Technology degree in 2026.

Felice Bloom ‘26 is studying to earn a bachelor’s degree in Innovation, Society, and Technology with a concentration in Data Analytics. She holds several student leadership roles at the iSchool.