College of Engineering Vice Chancellor and Dean Dr. M. Katherine Banks presents a $5,000 check to DeHydraTect. Left to right: Joey Whippold, Banks, Magy Avedissian, Nga Tang and Kurt Parizek.
Texas A&M Invents Declares A Winner
The ’47 x FADER sessions began immediately after DeHydraTect was crowned the champion of the “Texas A&M Invents for an Intelligent Future” competition by a panel of former student judges and presented a $5,000 check by College of Engineering Vice Chancellor and Dean Dr. M. Katherine Banks.
Team DeHydraTect, composed of Magy Avedissian, Nga Tang, Kurt Parizek, Joey Whippold, developed a pacifier that can detect dehydration in infants and beat runner-up team Tobor, who received a $3,500 award, and Pulse Labs.
The team of Texas A&M alumni judges, led by former NASA rocket scientist and comedian Shayla Rivera, included Stephen P. Rodriguez, founder of One Defense; Charles Schroeder, vice president of Product Marketing for RF and Wireless Communications for National Instruments; and Gregory Chamitoff, Texas A&M professor of engineering practice and director of the AeroSpace Technology, Research & Operations (ASTRO) Center.
Rivera said the competition is a testament to how Texas A&M continues to evolve while continuing to produce high-caliber talent.
“I can see how the school is not just growing. There’s an evolution going on because it’s incorporating not just the STEM and student aspects with education, but the human aspect that balances things out,” Rivera said.
After interacting with alumni who visited Texas A&M House throughout the week, Rivera added she was impressed with their humble demeanors despite their great achievements.
“There is a modesty to their incredible creativity and their achievements and the things they have been able to do with their lives,” Rivera said. “I travel all over the world and I can say there is something different about Texas A&M.”