Camden Catholic High School teachers, An Nguyen, Bridget Blash, and Regina Knowlton, have been named Regional Champions in the 2026 Presidential AI Challenge. Their award-winning project, "AI-Augmented Molecular Design: An AI-Durable Module for AP Biology," was recognized for its innovative approach to integrating artificial intelligence into the classroom.
The project moves the AP Biology curriculum into the realm of modern drug discovery. Students act as lead scientists in a research startup, using the same technology that recently earned the Nobel Prize in Chemistry—AlphaFold—to predict and design protein structures. By engaging in this professional-level research, CCHS students are developing advanced scientific skills that were previously inaccessible at the high school level.
The module was designed to ensure that AI facilitates, rather than replaces, critical thinking. By intentionally working in areas where AI requires human oversight for accuracy, students must master biological pathways via literature survey before using technology to implement their hypotheses. Beyond the academic rigor, the project uses only free, browser-based tools to ensure that any student with a Chromebook can participate in scientific discovery.
This win highlights the ambitious, forward-thinking environment at Camden Catholic, where teachers are redefining what high school students can achieve. The team will now represent the region at the national finals in Washington, D.C. this June.