University of Advancing Technology's Official Technology Blog

On the 6th day of Techmas, we’re celebrating University of Advancing Technology's (UAT) six top blogs of 2025! From Artificial Intelligence (AI) art reaching the Moon to award-winning hackathon wins, immersive experiences at CactusCon, Student Innovation Projects (SIP), esports community highlights, and top Niche rankings, these stories showcase the creativity, skill, and innovation that make UAT students stand out.

1. Hacking, Learning & Networking: CactusCon 2025 By Avery Willets

UAT student Avery Willets describes his experience at CactusCon 2025, where they explored cutting-edge cybersecurity tools, attended talks on red-team tactics and hash-cracking, gained leadership insights, and connected with Arizona’s vibrant cyber community.

2. Spring Innovations Unleashed: Highlighting the Spring 2025 Student Innovation Projects By Katy Toerner 

Spring 2025 Student Innovation Projects Spotlight, featuring tools and games that push creative and technical boundaries—from a 3D-to-2D animation converter to an immersive RTS game and a customizable audio plugin—showcasing the innovation driving UAT students’ work.

3. UAT Student's AI Art makes its way from Times Square to Space! By Katy Toerner 

UAT student Vanessa Camacaro's AI-generated artwork — previously displayed in Times Square — was launched into space aboard the Firefly Blue Ghost Moon Lander aboard a SpaceX rocket, landing on the Moon at Mare Crisium on March 2, 2025. The piece, “La Vie En Rose,” will become part of a lunar museum — marking an extraordinary blend of AI art, human creativity, and space exploration.

4. Wyverns Gaming & Esports Club By Jayce Jakubowski 

UAT’s Wyverns Gaming & Esports Club, one of the campus’s largest student groups, offering a welcoming space for both competitive players and casual gamers. Focused on community, stress relief, and connection, the club gives students a fun, supportive outlet to unwind, build skills, and get involved in campus life through gaming.

5. UAT Ranked among the Best: A top choice for Design, Safety, and Student Life By Katy Toerner

UAT’s strong performance in the 2025 Niche rankings — including being named #1 in Arizona for Computer Science and #1 in Arizona for Design.
It also notes other high ranks: #2 in the state for Information Technology, #2 for dorm quality, #3 for student life and campus safety, and top spots for food, location, and overall campus environment.

6. UAT Students win Hack The Future: Phoenix Hackathon By Robert Walker

UAT students Keegan Heaton and Ozzy James took first place at the SeedAI Hackathon in Phoenix, demonstrating their expertise in AI and cybersecurity. Their winning project highlighted real-world problem-solving skills and UAT’s focus on hands-on, practical learning.

Join the holiday tech celebration—your future in tech starts at UAT. Learn More about all UAT has to offer students today!