This year’s TXST Open Datathon graduate student division first-place winner, Annie Vo, from the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, delivered an insightful poster presentation that explored the boundaries of open-data-driven research on a project of high-impact to the local community – the Cloudburst Data Center.
Vo’s presentation, titled Digital Gold Rush: Cloudburst Data Center’s Water Demand Impact on the Edwards Aquifer, provided a compelling and timely analysis of the proposed CloudBurst Data Center campus in southern San Marcos. Using advanced GIS spatial analysis and scenario-based, water-demand modeling, she identified the far-reaching implications of large-scale data infrastructure on regional water resources. The judges were impressed with the clarity of her project, the precision of the data, and the timely relevance of the project for the local San Marcos community.
At Texas State University, graduate research is never confined to the classroom, it is shaped by mentorship, hands-on experiences and campus opportunities that challenge students to grow. For Vo, a second-year geography master’s student, that journey has been defined by curiosity, resilience and a willingness to step outside of her comfort zone.
From the start, her graduate experience has been marked by a strong support system. With a small faculty-to-student ratio, the geography program offers an environment where meaningful, one-on-one engagement with professors is the norm. This close mentorship has allowed Vo to explore research interests in depth, particularly in heat mobility and transit equity.
Beyond the classroom, her role as a Graduate Research Assistant at the Texas School Safety Center has played an equally important role in shaping her academic and professional development. Working in school safety research and evaluation, she has built essential skills in data management, collaboration and organization.
“It’s been a training ground,” Vo said. “Not just for research, but for learning how to work professionally and manage complex projects.”
That combination of academic curiosity and practical experience ultimately led her to participate in the TXST Open Datathon, an annual contest hosted by University Libraries that concludes International Love Data Week. The event provides undergraduate and graduate students with a platform to access and explore open data in insightful and empowering ways. Hosted in partnership with several campus collaborators, including TXST Center for Analytics and Data Science, TXST Data, Analytic, & Institutional Research, TXST STAR Park, Alkek One, City of San Marcos GIS Group, and TXST IDEA Center, Datathon brings together diverse expertise to support innovative, data-driven research.
Her decision to compete, however, did not happen overnight.
She first encountered Datathon through Alkek library’s email newsletter (Library Links) early in her graduate program. At the time, she felt unprepared.
“I was only two months into the geography program and I knew I didn’t yet have the skills to fully explore the kind of project I had in mind,” Vo said.
Rather than rushing in, she made a deliberate choice: wait, learn and return stronger the following year. That patience paid off.
Leading up to the competition, inspiration for her project emerged from a local discussion about the environmental impact of AI data centers. Drawing connections between that conversation and lessons from a course on emergency management with Dr. Denise Blanchard, Vo developed a research focus on water-use efficiency. With additional support from library workshops and sessions during Love Data Week, she strengthened her technical skills in tools like Python and SPSS, which contributed to her feeling prepared and confident at the competition.
Still, the day of the presentation brought nerves.
“I remember walking in feeling anxious,” Vo said.
Encouragement from librarian Sam Marsh helped ground her. Instead of letting nerves take over, she leaned into the experience observing other presenters, taking notes and refining her own approach in real time. As a first-generation immigrant, she described learning how to move forward despite uncertainty as valuable lessons she learned first-hand from her parents. Fear, in her view, is not something to avoid, but something that can coexist with action. When it was Vo’s turn, she focused on communicating one key idea: why her research matters.
What followed was both relief and connection. During the event’s Networking & Social time, she engaged with fellow participants, including an undergraduate student group exploring similar themes from a different perspective.
“It was exciting to see how others approached the same topic,” Vo said. “The conversations highlighted the collaborative nature of research, where diverse approaches contribute to a broader understanding of shared issues.”
Reflecting on the experience, she emphasized the importance of community within academic spaces. What began as a nerve-wracking environment quickly became one defined by encouragement and mutual support. Familiar faces in the audience and a shared commitment to learning helped transform the Datathon into a space where competition and collaboration coexisted.
“The sense of community stood out the most,” Vo said. “It’s something you don’t often experience at that scale, across different departments and levels.”
When her name was announced as the winner at the award ceremony, the moment felt surreal.
“I thought I might place, but I didn’t expect to win,” Vo said. “There were so many strong presentations.”
As she looks toward the future, including plans to pursue a Ph.D., the experience has left a lasting impact. Presenting at the Datathon has strengthened her confidence in sharing research and embracing the full process from idea to execution. It has also reinforced a mindset that continues to guide her journey: you can be scared and still do it.
For other graduate students considering entering the TXST Open Datathon competition, Vo’s advice is simple but powerful.
“Have the audacity to put yourself out there because you have everything to gain and nothing to lose,” Vo said. Also, have the audacity to believe in yourself because you deserve to see the product of your diligent efforts.”