Articles

Teen co-founders of NexusQuest.org empower HCC Library staff with AI training

Jun 18, 2025

Houston Community College Southwest Center for Entrepreneurship is proud to announce the successful completion of a three-day Artificial Intelligence (AI) workshop, "Unlock the Power of AI: A Workshop for Library Staff," led by 14-year-old co-founders of NexusQuest.org, Neev and Neil Shaw.

This groundbreaking initiative, developed under the mentorship of Dr. Ravi Brahmbhatt, HCC’s Director of Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship, provided AI education and resources to HCC Stafford Campus Library staff, bridging a crucial educational gap in the community.

The comprehensive workshop, held May 28-30 at the HCC Southwest College’s Stafford Campus-Library in Stafford, saw 25 individuals participate each day, resulting in a total of 75 participations over the three-day bootcamp. This collaboration between NexusQuest.org and HCC Libraries, spearheaded by Keitha Robinson, Director of HCC Libraries at the SW College, and supported by Executive Director of Library Services Michael Stafford, equipped library personnel with essential knowledge and practical skills in the rapidly evolving world of AI. The program was crafted under the guidance of experts, including Pharmacists Nandan and Komal Shaw and Dr. Brahmbhatt, and delivered by the young prodigies, Neev and Neil. HCC Library Staff also received professional development credit for their participation.

"AI will not replace humans, but those who use AI will replace those who don’t," quoted Ginni Rometty, former CEO of IBM, setting the stage for the workshop's ethos. Over three intensive days, participants delved into a rich curriculum including:

Foundations of AI and ML: Exploring the core concepts of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, including Supervised, Unsupervised, and Reinforcement Learning, and the workings of Neural Networks and Deep Learning.
Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs): Understanding the capabilities of Generative AI, Large Language Models (LLMs) like GPTs, and Natural Language Processing (NLP).
Prompt Engineering: Mastering the art of crafting effective prompts for optimal AI outputs, covering Zero-Shot, One-Shot, Few-Shot, and Chain of Thought prompts, along with the 6 essential steps of prompt engineering (Task, Context, Example, Persona, Format, Tone).
Practical AI Tools and Applications: Hands-on experience with popular AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, DALL-E, Midjourney, Zapier, Gamma, and HeyGen.
Concerns around Generative AI: Addressing critical discussions on Intellectual Property and Ownership, Deepfakes, Limited Originality, Hallucinations in LLMs, and strategies to minimize them.
Plagiarism and AI Checkers: Examining the implications of AI on plagiarism and exploring AI content detection tools like GPTZero, Originality.ai, and Scribbr, along with their drawbacks.
Ethical Considerations & Responsible Use of AI: An in-depth look into ethical AI principles, including data privacy and security, bias and fairness, transparency and accountability, autonomous systems and human oversight, access and equity, environmental sustainability, and continuous ethical monitoring.
Guide to Microsoft Copilot: Practical demonstrations of Copilot’s integration within Microsoft 365 applications like Word, PowerPoint, and Power Automate for automating library workflows.
Custom GPTs and Teachable Machine: Learning to create personalized AI models and developing custom image classification models using tools like Teachable Machine.
GenAI: 8 Critical Questions for Libraries: A concluding discussion on the role of AI in libraries, informed decision-making, aligning AI with library values, policy implications, supporting exploration, integrating AI into library education, and fostering collaborations.

"It has been an absolute privilege to mentor Neev and Neil, and to witness their dedication and expertise in delivering such a high-quality program," Dr. Brahmbhatt said. "Their initiative embodies the spirit of entrepreneurship, and their ability to translate complex AI concepts into an accessible and engaging curriculum for the HCC Library staff is truly commendable. This partnership showcases the immense potential when educational institutions collaborate with bright, young minds."

Robinson expressed her enthusiasm: "HCC Libraries thrives on interaction with local students. Partnering with young entrepreneurs like Neev and Neil has provided our staff with invaluable hands-on practice and resources in the fast-evolving AI world. Their workshop was incredibly well-structured and delivered, directly addressing a critical need for AI literacy among our team. We are deeply grateful for their volunteerism and the profound impact they've had."

Stafford added: "This collaboration between NexusQuest.org and the HCC SW Center for Entrepreneurship exemplifies innovation at its best. The program not only empowered our library staff with vital AI skills but also demonstrated the importance of community partnerships in fostering educational growth. Neev and Neil's ability to identify a market need and build a solution is an inspiring example of youth entrepreneurship. This initiative also highlights the importance of partnerships and collaborations in advancing educational goals within our community."

Dr. Maya Durnovo, HCC Associate Vice Chancellor for Entrepreneurships, added, “At HCC, we are proud to witness and actively participate in the entrepreneurial journey of promising young talents like Neev and Neil. Their vision with NexusQuest.org to address real community needs and their ability to execute such a sophisticated training program truly embodies the spirit of innovation we champion. Upskilling our community and fostering these young entrepreneurs is not just a goal, but a testament to HCC’s commitment to shaping the future workforce."

"Our world is changing—fast! Every day, new technology reshapes the way we live, work, and connect," Neev said. "While innovation surges forward, people are being left behind due to tech illiteracy. That's why NexusQuest.org was born—to break down these barriers. We believe that everyone deserves access to the knowledge and digital skills that will shape the future. This workshop is a perfect example of our mission to make technology accessible, approachable, and empowering for all."

Neil echoed his brother's sentiments: "Identifying the need for AI education in libraries and then developing a program to address it was a rewarding challenge. Learning to identify market needs and building a solution, even as young entrepreneurs, is crucial. The partnership with HCC Libraries and the mentorship from Dr. Brahmbhatt were instrumental in making this workshop a success. At NexusQuest, we're building a community where learning is collaborative, where asking for help is encouraged, and where curiosity drives change. Because when we bridge the gap between people and technology, we unlock limitless possibilities!"

Nandan Shaw, parent of Neev and Neil, stated: "We are immensely proud of Neev and Neil for their dedication and the professionalism with which they delivered this complex program. The guidance they received from Dr. Brahmbhatt was invaluable in shaping a high-quality educational experience. Their ability to deliver a program of this caliber at their age speaks volumes about their passion and commitment to education."

Komal Shaw, also a parent, shared: "Witnessing Neev and Neil's commitment to volunteerism and their drive to fill an educational gap has been truly inspiring. This workshop not only provided critical AI knowledge but also highlighted the importance of partnership and collaboration between young innovators and established institutions. The professional development credit for the HCC staff is a testament to the program's expert development and flawless delivery."

At the conclusion of the program, Neev, Neil, and their parents, Nandan and Komal, were formally recognized by Robinson and Stafford for the resounding success of the workshop. Stafford also took the opportunity to acknowledge Robinson and Dr. Brahmbhatt for their innovative and impactful collaborative program at HCC, setting a new benchmark for community engagement and educational advancement.