South Florida High School’s AI Research Team to Remotely Operate Robot 3,250 Miles Away in Oregon Senior Day Center for the Disabled and Memory Impaired.
Davie, FL – October 24, 2025 – In an unprecedented demonstration of real-world research and cutting-edge technology, seven high school juniors from the College Academy at Broward College will remotely control the Stretch mobile robot as they pass out hydration candies and socially interact with older adults with disabilities and cognitive impairments at Our Place Social Center in Hillsboro, Oregon — all while seated at the Nova Southeastern University (NSU) medical school in Davie, Florida.
Jennifer Poff, a registered nurse and founder of Our Place Social Center, will be supporting remotely with her colleagues, Sarah Poff and Darlene Sochin. They will guide the students on how to interact with the ‘friends’ at Our Place who have dementia by promoting self-esteem, dignity, independence, and purpose through enriching activities in a safe place.
The event will take place on Friday, October 24, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern Time and marks the culminating moment of a six-month internship called AI in Medicine—a research program designed to show how artificial intelligence is already transforming patient care, with a special focus on neurological conditions like dementia, ALS, and Parkinson’s disease.
The student interns have met weekly at NSU since January. They have worked under the guidance of NSU medical student Brianna Bourke and project lead Daryl Hulce, a longtime NSU alumnus known for creating immersive, high-impact learning experiences for students.
The event’s highlight will be a live demonstration of Stretch, a mobile manipulator robot from Hello Robot Inc. in Martinez, California. Designed for use in real-world environments around people, Stretch's has shown to empower independence for persons with conditions that may limit their ability to perform everyday tasks, such as picking up objects, delivering items, and opening doors. For this real-world demonstration, students will control the robot via a web-based interface to engage in meaningful activities with the ‘friends’ of Our Place Social Center. This showcase will clearly illustrate how AI and robotics are being merged for practical, real-world applications in healthcare and everyday life.
V Nguyễn, an occupational therapist and clinical research lead, from Hello Robot, will participate remotely to explain the role of AI and robotics in healthcare and accessibility. V has collaborated with Our Place since 2021 to explore how Stretch can provide cognitive support and social participation for people with varying stages of dementia through games, video calls, and routine deliveries (e.g., food, hydration). She is excited to include the students in this journey.
“I’ve seen how these unique and vital internship opportunities can spark something powerful in students. When we give them access to use emerging technologies in real-world experiences, they rise to the challenge by leading with innovative ideas that positively impact local communities and the broader society. Thereby often discovering the path to their future, inspiring their peers, and reshaping the landscape of innovation for the next generation.”
The event is invite-only and will feature brief remarks by the students, as well as participation from NSU medical school administrators, the principal of College Academy, and invited school board members.
While AI is often associated with writing papers or generating images, this project offers a deeper message: Artificial intelligence is reshaping healthcare—and young people are not just watching it happen, they’re actively researching and shaping its future.
About Hello Robot Inc.
Hello Robot Inc, founded in 2017 and based in Martinez, California, United States, develops Stretch, a mobile manipulator that is lightweight, affordable, and designed for real-world environments and use around people. Hello Robot actively collaborates with the community to develop Stretch into an inclusive robot that will empower people of all ages and abilities to live independently and thrive in daily life. Currently, Stretch is primarily used by a global network of researchers and industry partners, leveraging our open-source model to enable groundbreaking research and development together.
Media interested in attending or arranging interviews with students or faculty should contact:
Daryl Hulce
954-540-1062
daryl.hulce@cksf.org