On Aug. 5, UDC hosted the 2026 U.S. Army HBCU-MI Student Program for Army Research and Knowledge (SPARK) Symposium. The daylong event brought STEM students from HBCUs and minority-serving institutions across the country to UDC, where they shared results from summer research internships working on projects aligned with U.S. Army research priorities, collaborating with Army researchers and gaining professional experience in fields connected to science, technology and national security. The program is designed to provide a bridge between academic learning and potential careers in research, government and industry. UDC computer science major K’Vonte Petty was among the 27 interns selected to participate in this year’s cohort who presented at the symposium.
Petty spent the summer based at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center – Simulation and Training Technology Division in Orlando, Florida, working on the project “Reinforcement Learning for Autonomous Decision-Making: From Benchmark Validation to Mission-Relevant Convoy Navigation” under the guidance of Chris McGroarty. His task involved programming a vehicle to use artificial intelligence to navigate itself smoothly through unfamiliar terrain while avoiding threats, with the goal of perfecting vehicles that do this without putting humans at risk at all. As Petty explained his project to symposium visitors, he used familiar basketball analogies to break down some of the technical concepts — an instinct for a research scholar who is also a teacher, coach and mentor.
In addition to his studies at UDC, Petty is currently a paraprofessional at Friendship Ideal Public Charter School, where he supports second-grade math instruction and special education students and coaches elementary and middle school boys’ and girls’ basketball. Petty says he teaches and coaches because he “just want[s] to give back,” and for him, this work with young people in DC is a return home.
Petty grew up in the former Forest Ridge neighborhood in Southeast DC and was both class salutatorian and captain of the basketball team at Friendship Tech Prep Academy. He originally enrolled at Florida A&M University, but after financial constraints and then the COVID-19 pandemic led him back to DC, he didn’t give up on pursuing his degree. He earned an associate’s degree in general studies at Prince George’s Community College, and now at UDC, he’s found his home and his passion. As he says, “That [whole] experience was an important part of my journey, because although my original path changed, I remained determined to finish my education. Eventually, that journey led me to UDC, where I’ve found a place that aligns with my academic and professional goals.” After he receives his BS in Computer Science later this year, Petty plans to remain at UDC for graduate school.
As he puts it, UDC is where he’s “learned to put in the work.” His academic adviser, Aliyah Williams, describes him as “a dedicated and determined student who has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to his academic and professional growth,” and notes he’s shown a genuine willingness to take initiative and make the most of outstanding opportunities like the Army HBCU-MI SPARK internship. Meanwhile, Petty reinforces how well the rigor of UDC’s computer science department has set him up for success. His internship topic was an entirely new field of research for him, but as he says, “The work ethic was already there. No one had to tell me how to study … the program at UDC prepared me to do my thing and go right in.”
Petty suffered a series of unexpected losses during the summer, including the sudden death of an internship mentor who had spent late hours supervising and encouraging him, but he persevered and came away with “an even deeper love” for the field and a new excitement about connecting his summer research to a range of other concepts. He lights up when he explains his hopes for bringing his summer experiences to his current students: “I wasn’t exposed to this [at their age], and I love it — and I know they will love it. And I know how to put it in terms they’re going to understand.”
K’Vonte Petty and the full cohort of students who presented at the U.S. Army HBCU-MI SPARK Symposium showcased a rising class of STEM scholarship and talent, and Petty is already hard at work passing his knowledge and excitement on to the next generation.
Interested in learning more about the U.S. Army HBCU-MI SPARK program and future student opportunities? Learn more about the program and how to participate.