Southwest Baptist University’s Division of Computing and Mathematics recently had 23 computing seniors work on and present six projects sponsored by several leading companies and organizations, including the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank.
“Our computing seniors have continued to demonstrate excellence over the years. This year was no exception,” said Dr. Amos Gichamba, the Division Head of Computing and Mathematics. “We are thankful for our sponsors, for their immense support and for working with our seniors to support the delivery of high-quality projects. We are very excited that some of the sponsors have already rolled out some of the projects for use within their organizations.”
Senior projects are an annual event for students majoring in computer science, computer information science, cybersecurity, software engineering or web systems and design. Over the course of their senior year, students in the computing area work on cross-discipline teams to develop commercial-quality applications for end-users working in faith-based companies, not-for-profit charities and leading American companies and organizations.
“Our students have adopted very well to the post-covid tech workspace,” Gichamba said. “Most engagements with sponsors and project teams were virtual. This was a great opportunity for our seniors to use tools, methodologies and techniques that the industry has embraced as more organizations have gone virtual.”
Projects for the 2022-2023 academic year included:
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Machine Learning Records Classification, Kansas
City
Student Team: Jack Campbell, a computer science major from Nixa, Mo; Andrew Eisenhour, a computer science and mathematics major from Springfield, Mo; Jackson Hesseltine, a cybersecurity major from Palm Desert, Ca; and Corey Siegfried, a computer information science major from Bolivar, Mo.
The team will be tasked with creating an application to assist workers in appropriately labeling and categorizing unstructured and semi-structured electronic records to automate the application of security labels and ensure compliance with record retention requirements. The team implemented a solution based on neural networking, data analysis and machine learning to achieve this task.
State of Missouri IT Services Division New Hires, Jefferson City
Student Team: Louis Kiarie, a computer science major from Nairobi, Kenya; Jenna Cantrell, a cybersecurity major from Mountain Grove, Mo; Charles Phillips, a computer information science major from Raymore, Mo; and Joel Nicholson, a computer science major from Bolivar, Mo.
ITSD wanted a new application created to provide a better way to track ITSD New Hires. The current ITSD New Hire Onboarding Tracker is an Excel spreadsheet with limited capabilities.
Southwest Baptist University Residence Life, Bolivar
Student Team: Christopher Glaze, a computer information science major from Festus, Mo; Andrew Kammerer, a cybersecurity major from West Plains, Mo; and Kyle Collinson, a cybersecurity major from Steelville, Mo.
This project aimed to help track dorm curfew scans automatically. The project will enable Residence Life office to get up-to-date and have immediate access to curfew scan information.
Economic Development Partnership, Bolivar, Mo.
Student Team: Tyler Bell, a computer information science major from Dodgeville, Wi, Kasydie Shipp, a cybersecurity major from Kansas City, Mo; Jadon Wipf, a cybersecurity major from Marshfield, Mo; and Jacob Weihe, a computer science major from Morrisville, Mo.
EDP coordinates and facilitates the development of a strong, diversified and competitive economy in Bolivar and Polk County. The EDP focuses on addressing the needs and opportunities of existing businesses, providing assistance to new and expanding businesses, fostering workforce development, supporting an entrepreneurial culture, and advocating for a business-friendly climate in Bolivar. EDP wanted to partner with SBU, to revamp and rebuild its website and link to the City of Bolivar's website for its economic development information.
City of Bolivar Code Inspection Department, Bolivar, Mo.
Student Team: Nick Johnson, a cybersecurity major from West Plains, Mo; Cody Tosh, a web systems and design major from Batesville, AR, Zachary Wallgren, a computer science and mathematics major from Wentzville, Mo and Jared Bates, a computer science major from Bolivar, Mo.
Sometimes, the City has to work with property owners who have allowed their property to become dilapidated or dangerous. To fulfill that task, the City has a process of escalation, starting from the initial contact, where they photograph the property and fill out an initial form that outlines the problems that need to be addressed, then escalating into a hearing with the City Administrator. The student team developed an app that would allow them to use a cell phone to work through the process, starting with time-stamped photos and utilizing a flowing system that continues through the next steps to the point of a hearing and final resolution.
Lightwise, Bolivar, Mo.
Student Team: Tanner Bell, a computer information science major from Dodgeville, Wi; Tumekie Blackwood, a computer science and mathematics major from Kingston, Jamaica; Peter Welter, a computer science and mathematics major from Fair Play, Mo; and Tyler Moose, a computer science and mathematics major from Nixa, Mo.
Lightwise uses Monday.com as its customer relationship management system. This phase of the project added the ability to interface with an inventory management system, OrderTime, to help with the synchronization of data between the two systems used by the organization.
SBU’s Division of Computing and Mathematics houses eight full-time faculty members, one faculty associate and more than 80 students majoring in computer science, computer information science, cybersecurity, software engineering, web systems and design, mathematics or mathematics education. Among evangelical Christian institutions, SBU is one of the leading producers of software engineers in the United States and is the second-largest university computing department in the Missouri Ozarks.
SBU’s Computer Science and Cybersecurity programs are accredited by ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). SBU is only one of two evangelical Christian institutions with an ABET-accredited Cybersecurity program, and one of eight in the nation. The Computer Information Science program is accredited by ACBSP.
For more information about the Division of Computing and Mathematics, contact Gichamba at (417) 328-1721 or agichamba@sbuniv.edu.
PHOTO 1: Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City team – Jack Campbell, Andrew Eisenhour, Jackson Hesseltine and Corey Siegfried.
PHOTO 2: State of Missouri ITSD Employee team – Louis Kiarie, Jenna Cantrell, Charles Phillips and Joel Nicholson.
PHOTO 3: Southwest Baptist University Residence Life team – Christopher Glaze, Andrew Kammerer and Kyle Collinson.
PHOTO 4: Economic Development team – Tyler Bell, Kasydie Shipp, Jadon Wipf and Jacob Weihe.
PHOTO 5: City of Bolivar team – Nick Johnson, Cody Tosh, Zachary Wallgren and Jared Bates.
PHOTO 6: Lightwise team – Tanner Bell, Tumekie Blackwood, Peter Welter and Tyler Moose.
*Published: 5/18/2023