In June 2025, a team from Middlesex Community College participated in the final round of the Community College Innovation Challenge (CCIC) in Washington D.C. The group presented on their project entitled InSight, created by Department Chair and Professor of Engineering Cristopher Algarra and engineering students Cortney Schultz-Corson, Karl C. Hampton, and Jeremias Castillo.
“Being selected as a finalist for the Community College Innovation Challenge is both an incredible honor and a deeply meaningful milestone in my academic and professional journey,” Schultz-Corson, of Lexington, said. “It represents the hard work, dedication and collaboration that my team and I have invested to develop a project we truly believe can make a positive impact. This recognition affirms the vital role that community college students play in driving innovation and solving real-world problems.”
A recent MCC computer aided design (CAD) engineering graduate, Schultz-Corson credits the experience for challenging her to think more critically and creatively. In addition to building her confidence, she was able to connect with other students and professionals.
For Hampton, a recent graduate of MCC’s electrical and computer engineering program, he believes the experience has furthered his education. Being named a CCIC finalist is both “an honor and a privilege.”
“What makes this experience even more meaningful is that our project isn’t about showcasing personal achievements, it’s about using our skills to improve the lives of others,” Hampton said. “Contributing to something with a purpose beyond ourselves is a powerful and fulfilling way to grow as students, innovators, and members of a broader community.”
Castillo is a recent graduate of MCC’s electrical and computer engineering program. Honored to be part of the team representing Middlesex, he emphasizes the hard work and time that went into creating InSight.
“Being selected as a finalist is a privilege, and I'm proud of what the team and I have accomplished so far,” Castillo said. “This milestone serves as a beacon to other students from community colleges around the U.S. to show that we can compete on the national stage.”
MCC’s project is a wearable navigation aid designed to assist blind and visually impaired individuals in navigating their environments with greater confidence and independence, according to Algarra. The device uses a combination of LiDAR and GPS technologies integrated into a comfortable headphone design to provide spatial awareness and obstacle detection through intuitive audio cues.
“The idea for InSight was first inspired by Molly Burke’s YouTube video describing her personal struggles as a blind individual during the LA wildfires,” Algarra said. “Her call to action and plea for society to do more for the disability community deeply resonated with us and motivated our team to create a practical solution. We came together with the shared goal of addressing real accessibility challenges.”
The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), in partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF), announced that Middlesex was one of 12 finalist teams to advance to the CCIC final round. During the event, finalists attended an Innovation Boot Camp and interacted with entrepreneurs and experts in business planning, stakeholder engagement, strategic communication, and marketplace dynamics.
The experience ended with a Student Innovation Poster Session on Capitol Hill with STEM leaders and congressional stakeholders and a pitch presentation to determine the first, second and third-place winning teams. Algarra was proud of the work the students made throughout their time working on the project and preparing for their final presentation.
“Throughout the process, we collaborated extensively, conducting research, developing prototypes, interviewing potential users, and refining the design to ensure it offers both safety and ease of use,” Algarra said. “Our ultimate mission is to empower individuals with vision impairments to live more independently and navigate the world with greater confidence.”