From Ypsilanti to Google I/O: EMU Students Build a Growing Technology Community

The Chronicle News
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Student-led Google Developer Group creates new pathways for collaboration, innovation and opportunity at Eastern Michigan

Chanuth Jayatissa is pictured in a technology-focused setting reflecting his work with Eastern Michigan University’s Google Developer Group and the broader developer community. Jayatissa helped build EMU’s student-led technology network, creating new opportunities for collaboration, innovation and professional growth.

YPSILANTI, Mich. — What began as an effort to connect students interested in technology has grown into a larger community of innovation at Eastern Michigan University, helping students gain hands-on experience, build professional relationships and reach opportunities far beyond campus. Eastern Michigan University launched its first Google Developer Group in 2025. Since then, the student-led organization has created a space for students to explore Google technologies, collaborate on projects and strengthen their technical skills while becoming part of a larger developer community.

Two students at the center of that growth, Chanuth Jayatissa and Karthikeya Thota, helped build the organization while continuing to participate in technology competitions and hackathons. Their involvement eventually led to invitations to Google I/O 2026, Google’s annual developer conference.

For the students, reaching Google I/O represented more than attending a major technology event. It reflected how persistence, collaboration and student leadership can create opportunities that may not always begin inside a traditional classroom. Hackathons have played an important role in that journey. These fast-paced events bring students and developers together to create working solutions to real-world problems within a limited amount of time, giving participants opportunities to practice technical skills while also learning teamwork, communication and problem solving.

Eastern Michigan University’s Google Developer Group has continued building on that culture. The organization gives students a place to learn from one another, experiment with emerging technology and connect with peers who share similar interests. The experience has also inspired an even larger goal. Students involved with the group are working toward bringing a student-led hackathon to Eastern Michigan University, expanding opportunities for students to develop projects, compete, network and showcase their abilities.

That effort could have an impact well beyond a single event. Student-led technology organizations can help bridge the gap between academic learning and the professional world by giving students practical experience before graduation. They can also help create a stronger sense of belonging for students entering fields such as computer science, cybersecurity, software development and artificial intelligence. In rapidly changing industries, access to peers, mentors and real-world experiences can be just as important as what happens inside the classroom.

The story emerging from EMU is also one of initiative. Rather than waiting for opportunities to arrive, students created a community that could connect them with resources, technology and one another. That kind of leadership reflects a broader shift taking place across Michigan colleges and universities as students look for new ways to turn their education into experience. Clubs, hackathons, research groups and professional organizations are increasingly becoming places where students begin building networks and testing the skills they will eventually take into the workforce.

For Michigan, that matters. Developing and retaining young technology talent will remain important as businesses, nonprofits, government agencies and educational institutions continue adapting to advances in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital technology. The work happening at Eastern Michigan University offers one example of how that pipeline can begin.

A student group formed on a college campus has grown into a community capable of opening doors to a global technology conference and inspiring students to create opportunities for those who come after them.

From Ypsilanti to Google I/O, the journey shows what can happen when students are given room to connect, experiment and lead.

Source: Eastern Michigan University and EMU Today reporting.