WASHINGTON — First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday honored a generation of future technology pioneers, hosting an East Room ceremony recognizing the winners of the inaugural Presidential AI Challenge.
The first-ever AI Challenge award ceremony honored six student national champion teams and roughly 120 of their fellow finalists.
But the story was much bigger than that, as the Presidential AI Challenge engaged more than 20,000 K-12 students, educators, mentors and community teams from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 49 Department of War Education Activity schools across 10 countries.
During her welcoming remarks, the first lady said, “This is just the beginning.
“Today is about opening doors. When new doors open, passions flow, courage blossoms and dreams are realized. AI inspires,” Trump continued.
“Use this chapter of your life to sail away with your dreams — to continue to build boldly, and importantly, to safeguard America’s leading position in the world of technology,” she told the gathered, expectant-looking honorees.
The challenge was set in motion by President Donald Trump in April 2025, when he signed the executive order, “Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth.”
The order established the White House Task Force on AI Education under the auspices of the first lady and Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, specifically to encourage young people to gain an interest and expertise in AI technology during their formative years in school.
As part of the effort, the task force planned and carried out the Presidential AI Challenge, and established a series of public-private partnerships to provide resources for K-12 AI education.
The first lady reminded the students, family members and teachers in attendance of the growing importance of artificial intelligence and the continuing role for technology in business, health care, nutrition and public safety, among other areas.
“Artificial intelligence gives your communities access to the largest amount of information ever recorded in humanity’s history,” she said, adding that “this fundamental democratization of intellect will profoundly alter society: our industries, our social safety net, and even our open-mindedness toward cultural diversity.”
“Wisdom is tolerance, and change will be enhanced at hyper-speed,” she said.
The first lady also spoke of AI’s transformative ability to open new possibilities.
“AI can help us build a stronger community — making our publicly funded social programs more efficient and more effective. It allows us to deliver more personalized education and, in turn, will unlock growth in America’s economy,” she said.
Kratsios noted that the competitors in the challenge produced more than 2,500 projects aimed at overcoming some of their communities’ greatest challenges using AI.
“They worked on everything from tools that help navigate the complexity of school and the online world to those that improve local government efficiency and effectiveness, to others that synthesize real-world information for crime fighting, and that guard communities against hazardous chemicals,” Kratsios said.
“I am deeply inspired, and I am deeply encouraged by the work of all of our participants here today. It’s truly been amazing to see what you have accomplished,” he said. “Congratulations and well done.
“You are taking the first step in making artificial intelligence an integral part of everyday life, transforming all the world for the better,” Kratsios continued, adding, “You are an example to your fellow Americans as they declare their own opportunities to extend and amplify their capacities and their creativity with AI.”
Though they didn’t make formal remarks, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins were also in attendance and each spent several minutes speaking personally with individual students before the event got underway.
The six student National Champion teams recognized at the White House included:
The first lady said the honorees may “come from different backgrounds, schools and communities” but that all share something important — they saw a better way, and they chose to act on it.
In that way, she said, each honoree represents “the best of America.”
“Keep using artificial intelligence as a muse — to open new pathways, and ultimately, to achieve personal growth and success,” she said.
Trump encouraged the students to continue to have the courage to ask questions, seek innovative solutions, and serve others “as this is what will continue moving our country forward.”
“Don’t be reluctant to push that door open, be bold with your dreams, and brave with your actions,” the first lady said.
Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @DanMcCue
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