Columbus, OH & Boston, MA — April 1, 2026 — Showcasing the transformative power of student-led innovation, NWN, the leading provider of AI-powered technology solutions and managed services, alongside AI education leader AI Owl, announced today that the Intel AI for Youth cohort at Ridgewood High School (West Lafayette, OH) has been named an Ohio state winner in the White House AI Presidential Challenge. Developed by local students at Ridgewood’s advanced AI Lab, the “Reading Reimagined” platform will now advance to represent the state in the Northeast Regional competition.

This state-level victory builds upon a rich history of successful joint initiatives between NWN, AI Owl, and Intel; most notably their recent collaboration to launch comprehensive AI Education Networks and AI Labs—powered by NWN’s AI-Enabled Managed Services portfolio and made possible through Ohio’s TechCred program, launched and previously led by Sen. Jon Husted during his tenure as Ohio’s Lieutenant Governor.

Through these deployments, NWN provides the foundational services required to deliver AI Owl’s hands-on learning environments at scale, including AI PCs as a Service, secure networking, service desk and end-user support, and cybersecurity capabilities designed to help protect student data and support responsible AI use.

“Reading Reimagined” was engineered by students to directly address the critical 3rd and 4th-grade literacy gap. The platform leverages artificial intelligence to create highly interactive learning experiences, featuring an innovative “AI ad-lib” function that allows students to fill in vocabulary words to generate custom stories. The app includes a read-aloud competency assessment tool and provides real-time phonetic guidance using visual mouth movements to assist with pronunciation.

“This win for ‘Reading Reimagined’ highlights what happens when we empower students with the right tools to solve the problems they see in their own communities,” said Trace Johnson, of AI Owl. “Connecting educational problem-solving directly to industry challenges is a key to economic development. By backing these student innovations with NWN’s robust managed services and the power of our strategic partners like Intel, we can scale these solutions to create immediate job  placement opportunities and build the workforce of tomorrow.”

“Intel believes that every student has the potential to be a responsible creator and a solution builder with AI, not just a passive consumer. We congratulate these exceptional students from Ohio schools for their achievements and their collaboration with the Intel AI for Youth program.” said, Anshul Sonak, Global Director – Intel Digital Readiness Programs

“This journey is a testament to what becomes possible when public education and private enterprise come together with purpose. The AI For Youth class didn’t just develop technical skills, they became a team deeply committed to each other’s success.” Said Dr. Bryan Raach, Director of Student Services, Ridgewood Local School District. “That kind of growth can’t be taught; it has to be lived. The experience they earned through this process is one they will carry for the rest of their lives, and witnessing it has been the greatest privilege of my career. I could not be more proud of everything this class has accomplished.”

“This year has been extraordinary, and while the shoes to fill are large, the path forward belongs to the students and that is exactly where it should be. The future is theirs to write.”  Said Lester McCurdy, AI For Youth Teacher, Ridgewood High School.

Following a highly successful local launch that rapidly attracted thousands of active users and stories, “Reading Reimagined” stands as a prime example of applying responsible AI to solve real-world community challenges. The initiative echoes NWN’s longstanding commitment to bridging the digital divide and advancing student success to advanced technologies, reflecting the impactful digital equity and literacy work the company previously championed in major school districts like Baltimore.

The success of the platform also aligns with broader strategic initiatives supported by NWN, AI Owl, and Intel across the nation. By championing multi-generational collaboration—merging the tech-enabled fluency of younger generations with the foundational wisdom of incumbent workers—the partnership aims to create robust talent pipelines that support local economic growth.

This announcement is consistent with the national focus on advancing AI literacy in education, including the Presidential AI Challenge, which promotes the responsible and effective use of AI by students and educators.