Arizona State University\u2019s Din\u00e9Link team took first place in the Community Innovation Challenge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nFirst place: Din\u00e9Link \u2013 $10,000<\/strong>Mahima Subramaniyan and Devangna Jadeja, Arizona State University<\/em><\/p>\nSpanning 27,000 square miles of rugged terrain across Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, the Navajo Nation is the largest reservation in the United States. Yet for nearly two-thirds of the more than 160,000 people who live there, reliable internet remains out of reach. [1]<\/p>\n
Mahima and Devangna\u2019s proposal tackled this head-on with a vision for digital sovereignty through Din\u00e9Link, a community-owned network designed to withstand the terrain and serve the people who live there. They proposed using Cisco Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaul to bypass geographic barriers and reach areas where fiber isn\u2019t viable, paired with Meraki access points and security appliances to provide both connectivity and network management at scale. Solar-powered hubs would ensure reliability in remote areas, while Catalyst infrastructure would reduce dependency on traditional fiber networks. But what set Din\u00e9Link apart was the emphasis on building for the long-term by proposing to embed Cisco Networking Academy training through Din\u00e9 College and Navajo Technical University, so the community doesn\u2019t just get connectivity, but also the workforce to maintain and expand it themselves.<\/p>\n
Second place: HealthHorizons \u2013 $5,000<\/strong>Priya Rao (University of Connecticut), Julia Kuang (Wellesley College), Grace Chen (Swarthmore College)<\/em><\/p>\nIn Greene County, Alabama, just three practicing physicians serve the entire population. Like many remote areas, sparse infrastructure means limited broadband access, putting telehealth out of reach for most residents.<\/p>\n
The HealthHorizons team\u2019s proposal centered on creating reliable telehealth infrastructure where none currently exists. They designed a system using Meraki infrastructure with failover connectivity to ensure clinics stay online, combined with Meraki firewalls to maintain HIPAA-compliant security for patient data. Webex would enable remote consultations and connect patients directly with specialists, while AI-powered tools could help with triage. Their four-stage model was designed not as a one-time fix, but as a system that could provide continuity of care in a place that\u2019s been medically isolated for decades.<\/p>\n
Third place: OncoALERT \u2013 $2,500<\/strong>Dr. Jayanti Kumari and Sweta Pandey, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (India)<\/em><\/p>\nIn rural India, cancer is often diagnosed too late to treat effectively. Through OncoALERT, Dr. Kumari and Sweta proposed a low-cost, AI-enabled saliva biosensor that could be deployed by community health workers or used at home \u2014 no specialized equipment required. The technical infrastructure would use Catalyst wireless access points to provide reliable connectivity in rural villages, Meraki SD-WAN to extend healthcare networks beyond urban centers and layered security through Cisco ISE and Duo to protect sensitive health data. Webex would enable remote consultations, bringing oncologists into communities where they\u2019ve never had access before. If implemented at scale, their model estimates that OncoALERT could screen 5 million people and potentially save 120,000 lives.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\nCisco employees listen to the five Community Innovation Challenge finalist teams make their pitches during the Empower & Connect Summit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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