When AJ McDaniel graduated from high school, he wasn’t sure what would come next for him. But one pre-calculus class at MiraCosta College, taken alongside his brother, sparked an interest in math and technology that would open doors he never imagined.

“I realized I liked math and was good at it,” he recalled. That early confidence led him to pursue computer science and explore the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence.

AJ’s path wasn’t always easy, and his confidence sometimes faltered. Early on, he struggled in his first computer science class and questioned whether he belonged. But each time he faced uncertainty, he chose to keep going. “I knew I wouldn’t be happy if I didn’t finish my degree,” he said. “I didn’t want to live a life of regret.”

For several years, he’s balanced classes, part-time jobs, long commutes from Temecula, and family responsibilities, all while steadily working toward his degree. Over time, what once felt intimidating began to feel achievable. He went from barely passing to now holding a 4.0 GPA.

AJ credits much of his growth to the faculty and mentors who encouraged him to take on-campus courses instead of classes solely held online so that he could surround himself with others on a similar path. One professor’s advice stuck with him: put yourself in an environment that is in step with where you want to be.

That encouragement led him to join MiraCosta’s Computer Science Club, where he found a supportive community that helped him grow academically and personally. “The CS Club changed everything for me,” he said. “You gain so much just by being around people striving toward the same goals.”

Through the club, AJ has taken on leadership roles, tutored peers, and helped teach local elementary school students coding and STEM lessons. He’s also competed in multiple hackathons and programming competitions, including a regional International Collegiate Programming Competition (ICPC), where his team placed first among other community colleges and ahead of many four-year universities.

As AJ continued to build confidence in the classroom and through his leadership in the CS Club, his professors saw something in him: a student with the talent and determination to succeed on a much bigger stage. Faculty mentors encouraged him to apply for competitive opportunities, ones he said he might not have sought out independently.

The encouragement from MiraCosta College faculty paid off when AJ was personally invited to participate in Sentient Chat Hacks, a prestigious nationwide AI agent hackathon hosted virtually by UC Berkeley and organized by the Sentient Foundation, a prelaunch AI company backed by Founders Fund and valued at $1.2 billion. With a waitlist of more than 1.8 million users, the foundation is helping shape the future of safe, human-centered AI.

AJ was hand-selected by the foundation’s chief of staff to represent MiraCosta, becoming the only community college student among others from top-tier universities and high-growth startups nationwide. Collaborating with classmate Nathanael Atkins, AJ developed Vera, a conversational fact-checking assistant designed to help users verify claims, simplify complex topics, and easily access credible sources through clear, user-friendly explanations.

"Being able to represent MiraCosta alongside students from some of the top programs in the country was an incredible experience," AJ said. “I’ve worked hard to get here, but I also wouldn’t be here without the encouragement and support I’ve had along the way.”

AJ’s success comes as MiraCosta College is stepping boldly into the future of AI. In fall 2024, MiraCosta launched one of the first associate in science degrees in artificial intelligence in California, a program developed by the Computer Studies & Information Technology Department to meet growing workforce demands.

With job opportunities in AI skyrocketing nationwide, MiraCosta is positioning its students to enter one of the fastest-growing sectors in technology. According to labor