The Instructors Behind the Challenge: A BI5ON Ranch Gathering
Last Saturday we had a small get-together at the BI5ON Ranch with the instructors who made the first phase of the AI Sensor Design Challenge possible. No agenda, no presentations — just a carne asada, long conversations, and a chance to pause after two intense weeks of training.
All of them are young. All of them are in love with microelectronics, design, manufacturing, and the entire world behind how things actually get built. And it shows. Their curiosity, their discipline, and the way they light up when they talk about circuits, sensors, and engineering problems — that energy is what moves programs like Semicon Desert forward.
These were the instructors leading this first challenge: Cesar Verdugo, Abdiel Salas, Abraham Isai Acosta Otañez, Luis Angel Griego Peralta, and Jesús Omar Quiroz Miguel.
Most of them just graduated — or are about to — from the Universidad de Sonora. Some studied Electronic Engineering with specialization in microelectronics. Others come from Mechatronics Engineering. Together, they taught more than 250 students across theory sessions, simulation labs, AI modules, and hands-on exercises.
Around the fire, we talked about everything: What they’ve learned so far. Where students struggled. What surprised them. How to improve the next iteration. And the plans they each have moving forward — as professionals, as mentors, and as part of a growing semiconductor ecosystem.
Nights like this matter because they remind us that this work is built by people — not by programs, equipment, or schedules. And the ranch gathering made it clear: real progress comes from the commitment behind the scenes.
We’re grateful for them, proud of what they’ve built, and excited for what comes next.
