Elementary school students create award-winning mascot with artificial intelligence

Elementary school students from East Allen County Schools are learning advanced concepts in AI through a special educational program called the March Madness Syllabus Challenge.
The program is designed to be standards-aligned and is funded by the NCAA and operated by Praxis AI.
The program has four tracks: one focusing on math related to the March Madness tournament brackets, another on creating AI-generated mascots, a third track on different career paths in college basketball, and the last on the NCAA’s student-athlete eligibility criteria.
Hillary Bowman’s 6th grade class at Woodlan Elementary created Chester the Cheez-It, a mascot powered by AI, winning the challenge among over 6,000 participants in Indiana.
Bowman’s class learned both basic math skills and language skills while participating in the different tracks of the challenge.
Bowman stated that the challenge offers a good model for responsible AI education in elementary schools and emphasizes the creative and language development benefits while limiting exposure to inappropriate content.
Bowman’s class will receive a trophy and a $150 Pizza party from Papa Johns as recognition for their participation and victory.