2025-26 Supercomputing Challenge Kickoff

Kickoff Conference at New Mexico Tech in Socorro will be held on the weekend of October 11 - October 12, 2025.

• 9:00-11:30: Registration, pictures and campus tours at Joseph Fidel Student Union building (building #18 on the map).
• 11:30: Lunch in the cafeteria. See the General Schedule for more information.
• Room and board provided.
• Attendance at the Kickoff is not required for participation in the Challenge. Attendance at the Kickoff will be limited to 300 students.

After lunch Keynote, Leila Alhemali.

After dinner Keynote, Cherry Singhal.

Biography: Cherry Singhal holds a Ph.D. and MBA in Operations Management from the University of South Carolina, USA, and a Bachelors in Computer Science Engineering from Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University, India. Her research interests are cross-disciplinary and focus on innovation in operations management and its challenges in practice. Before her career in academia, Dr. Singhal worked as an IT consultant for a multinational IT consultancy firm, where she learned much about project management, database management, and corporate teamwork. Passionate about international operations, she has worked in different countries worldwide, including Singapore and Germany. Dr. Singhal was awarded the 2023 UNM Lecturer of the Year Award.

Sunday lunch Keynote, Jessica Trujillo-Torres

Coordinator of the New Mexico Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NMCCoE) The New Mexico Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, which has integrated the New Mexico Tech Cybersecurity Education Center (as of January 2022), is developing cybersecurity expertise in economic development, education, innovation, and research for the state of New Mexico.  The NMCCoE vision is to make New Mexico a leader in cybersecurity economic development, education, innovation, and research. The goals proposed to achieve this vision are: Grow and support cybersecurity economic development and research, including entrepreneurial workforce development, the growth of cybersecurity companies, and improve the cybersecurity stance of the state of New Mexico, its businesses, and its citizens. Develop innovative cybersecurity programs, including educational programs and cybersecurity research, and enhance cybersecurity research and information flow between universities and industry.

Conference Tracks

Track 1 - Introduction to Python, Beginners, Schedule

The students who participate in this session typically are Pre-Algebra students and/or have little to no experience in Python coding.

Track 2 - Image Processing Workshop with Python, Schedule

This session is for students who have taken Algebra 1 and/or have some experience in Python programming.

Track 3 - AI-Assisted Modeling and Simulation in Python, Schedule

An introduction to concepts in discrete-event simulation in Python, using LLM-based AI coding-assist tools.

Track 4 - Experienced - Google Colab, Machine Learning, Python, Schedule

This session is for students who have at least Pre-Calculus math level and have some experience with at least one programming language and/or have participated in the Challenge for multiple years.

Teacher Session, Schedule

This session is for teachers to familiarize themselves with the Supercomputing Challenge year and milestones.

Proposals

Remember that Supercomputing Challenge teams need to submit a Proposal prior to the Kickoff. See proposal guidelines.

Be sure students have registered and teachers have registered for the Supercomputing Challenge, submitted a TEAF and paid the registration fee.

Class Materials

Class materials

Housing Lists

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Comfort Inn - Schools:  Albuquerque Academy, Capital High, Melrose Schools, NM Military Institute, Rio Grande High, St. Thomas Aquinas
 

Econolodge - Schools:   Atrisco Heritage Academy, Justice Code, McCurdy Charter School, New Futures
 

Pictures

Check out the pictures from the Kickoff.

Publicity

To learn more about previous years' kickoffs, visit our archive.