RedHawk Applied AI Miami University RedHawk Builds · Nov 6–8
A Georgian-style academic building with a white cupola on Miami University's campus at golden hour, Oxford, Ohio

Miami University · Oxford, Ohio

Learn AI. Then do real work with it.

RedHawk Applied AI is Miami's student organization for applied artificial intelligence. We teach you the tools, bring in guest speakers who use them professionally, and put you on a team consulting for an actual company.

See the Program RedHawk Builds · Nov 6–8
Open to every majorNo experience required
Industry speakersPeople doing this for a living
A real clientActual deliverables, not case studies

How It Works

Seven weeks, zero to capable.

Every new member works through the same path. It starts from nothing, and each week builds on the one before it. Open any week to see what's covered.

    Second Semester

    After the curriculum, the real work starts.

    Members who finish the seven weeks move into research teams. You go deep on the tools, teach the chapter what you found, and then put it to work for a real company.

    Meets

    Mondays

    7:00 – 8:00 PM

    1. Research the models

      Members go deep on the AI models people use at work, one model per group, and keep building with Claude throughout.

      • Perplexityby Perplexity AI
      • ChatGPTby OpenAI
      • Grokby xAI
      • Claudeby Anthropic

    2. Present back to the chapter

      Each group brings its findings back and presents them, so the whole chapter learns what every model is good at.

    3. Four industry research teams

      Members work in four teams, each focused on an industry. Every team has a Research Lead, and any member can run for it.

    4. Consult for a real company

      A company comes in with a real problem. The teams consult on it and deliver an AI-driven solution.

    Want in? Applications reopen in February.

    How to apply

    RedHawk Builds 2026

    Where finance and technology intersect.

    A weekend fintech hackathon for Miami students, hosted with the Farmer School of Business. Build a working solution to a real finance problem with a team, learn AI hands-on, and pitch it for cash. No experience needed.

    Nov 6–8, 2026 McVey Data Science Building Teams of up to 4, or come solo

    Register for RedHawk Builds

    Prize pool

    1. 1st place$2,000
    2. 2nd place$1,000
    3. 3rd place$500
    30challenges
    6tracks
    6free meals

    Fri 11/6

    Learn

    Dinner from 5 to 8 PM, then hands-on workshops: rapid prototyping, scoping a business problem, AI APIs and document workflows, and working with financial data.

    Sat 11/7

    Build

    Check-in at 9 AM. Team mixer and build start at 10 AM. Mentors on the floor from 10 AM to 10 PM, when the venue closes.

    Sun 11/8

    Pitch

    Devpost deadline at 10 AM, expo judging at 10:30. The top 5 teams pitch in the finals at 1 PM. Awards at 2 PM.

    Meet the Exec

    The people running it.

    Ten Miami students who decided this should exist, and then built it.

    Ryan Barone

    Ryan Barone

    President

    Phoebe Towe

    Phoebe Towe

    VP, Standards & Internal Ops

    Will Beinecke

    Will Beinecke

    VP of Operations

    Kaelynn Smith

    Kaelynn Smith

    VP of Marketing

    Jackson Katona

    Jackson Katona

    Treasurer & VP of Events

    Jake Showalter

    Jake Showalter

    VP of New Member Education

    Mallory Shroder

    Mallory Shroder

    VP of New Member Education

    Jackson Potter

    Jackson Potter

    VP of New Member Education

    Aidan Schmidt

    Aidan Schmidt

    VP of Consulting & Corp. Relations

    Jake Parilla

    Jake Parilla

    VP of Recruitment

    Current members.

      Join Us

      Applications reopen in February.

      This semester's cohort is set and applications are closed. We open again in February, whether you're applying for the first time or applying again. Every major is welcome, and you don't need any experience.

      Follow on Instagram Follow on LinkedIn

      Dates and the application link get posted there first.

      Next application window

      February 2027

      • 1 Applications open in February
      • 2 New members start the 7-week curriculum
      • 3 Finish it and join a research team
      See what new members learn

      Work With Us

      Bring us a problem. We'll build the fix.

      RedHawk Applied AI takes on real business problems for companies, pro bono. A team of our members digs into yours and hands back an AI-driven solution you can put to work.

      • We agree on the scope with you up front
      • A member team works on it over several weeks
      • You get the solution and a final presentation

      Have a problem in mind, or just want to hear what we could take on? Reach out to Aidan Schmidt, VP of Consulting & Corporate Relations.

      Email Aidan Schmidt
      Students gathered in the Farmer School of Business atrium, Miami University
      Farmer School of Business · Miami University