Two University of Louisiana Monroe Computer Science students, Jeevan Parajuli and Pankaj Bhatta, recently participated in HackRice 16 (2026) at Rice University in Houston, Texas, on September 11th-13th, 2026. Their project was selected as one of the top five projects, giving them the opportunity to present Casey to the judges and a large audience.
The HackRice competition brings together creators, developers, and designers together under one roof to develop and showcase their creative and entrepreneurial talent. The competition is an opportunity for students to build a network of creators, receive internships and job offers from world-class sponsors, and learn about modern tools and systems.
“We are very proud of Jeevan Parajuli and Pankaj Bhatta for representing ULM Computer Science at HackRice 16 and for having their project selected among the top five out of 119 projects,” said Dr. Pransanthi Sreekumari, Associate Professor of Computer Science.
Although the team did not receive the final winning prize, being selected among the top five projects out of 119 submissions was an incredible accomplishment. Parajuli and Bhatta expressed their appreciation for the support they received from ULM throughout the process.
“We are extremely thankful to the ULM Computer Science Department, especially Professor Sreekumari, for supporting us throughout this opportunity,” they said. “From the beginning, when we shared our interest in attending HackRice 16, Professor Sreekumari supported and encouraged us. The Computer Science department assisted us with travel authorization, funding arrangements, and the overall process of participating in the hackathon.
“We are also very grateful to the College of Business and Social Sciences for helping make this opportunity possible. This was a meaningful experience for us, and we truly appreciate the encouragement, trust, and support we received from the department and the college.”
For more information on the HackRice competition visit https://hackrice.com.
