Aditya Patel
College student Aditya Patel spends much of his time tinkering with computer software the way Thomas Edison did with electric light bulbs: always trying to build a better filament.
So it came as a pleasant interruption when Spartanburg Community College officials notified Patel in mid-August that he had been named the winner of a recent Development Challenge.
Patel took top honors among 25 peer competitors in a challenge sponsored by
Quinton Harris, founder of GetMoving100, a company dedicated to promoting health, wellness, and healthy living through technology-driven solutions.
Participants were challenged to design and develop an application that serves as an interface between users and Artificial Intelligence technology, providing personalized nutritional guidance through a simple, intuitive user experience.
Each submission was evaluated on functionality, visual appeal, efficiency, accessibility, and ease of use for individuals with varying levels of technical experience.
After being declared the winner by Harris, Patel received a $500 cash prize for developing a solution that best met the project's objectives while delivering the strongest overall user experience.
“Winning the Development Challenge feels like one of those moments where all the time I've spent experimenting, building, failing, fixing things, and trying again finally connected to something real,” Patel said.
The winning, however, then took an unexpected turn when Harris offered Patel a contract position as a web developer with GetMoving100 to continue enhancing and supporting his own application.
“It opened the door to a professional opportunity,” said Patel, somewhat speechless at the additional bonus. “That gave me a different kind of confidence in what I am capable of creating.”
But SCC President Dr. Michael Mikota pointed out that Patel’s achievement not only speaks to the college’s work in preparing students for life beyond school, it exemplifies the collaboration between SCC and local industry partners.
He further indicated that this is especially true regarding computer technology and all things cyber, as SCC was designated in 2025 by the National Security Agency in Washington, D.C., as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense – only six years after launching its initial cyber study program.
"Our students are developing the skills employers need today,” Dr. Mikota said. “And partnerships like this give them the chance to demonstrate their talents… strengthen both their technical and professional skill…and build relationships that can lead directly to employment opportunities.”
As for the next rung on the cyber-computer landscape, Patel implied that it will mostly resemble what he was doing before the challenge: Trying to build a better filament.
“I see my future in technology as something I want to keep exploring rather than limiting myself to one specific path,” he said. “The industry is evolving quickly, especially with AI and new ways of building software, and I want to stay curious, keep learning, and grow alongside those changes. My goal is to continue creating useful products, work on meaningful problems, collaborate with people who challenge my thinking, and stay open to opportunities that can shape when I take my career next.”
