Like to write programs? Dig into interesting datasets? Design creative works? Or maybe you’ve never written a line of code? We will provide the space and the resources for you to express your creativity, ingenuity, and determination to create anything you want to. Whether you’re building your first website, dabbling in Photoshop, or hacking with an Oculus Rift, HackCU is for you. HackCU is for people of all backgrounds and experiences. So, come and join us!
This year, we have our own tracks (as well as sponsor tracks listed in the Prizes section).
General:
HackCU’s general challenge includes 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize winners. This challenge will be evaluated based on the overall creativity of the team and their project, questions selected by HackCU organizers, as well as any additional criteria mandated by the judges.
All Beginner:
Hackathons are a great way for beginners in technology—from the workshops to software resources provided by HackCU, we want first-time hackers to learn and build a project first hand. This track will assess the best hack created by a team of all beginner hackers.
Best UX/UI:
As crucial as the technology behind a project is, for the best engagement from users it is necessary to have a good user interface that not only fits the needs of the user but also enhances their experience. The track will be judged based on the aesthetic nature of the project’s user design, as well as how effectively it amplifies the purpose of the project.
Empowering Underrepresented People in Tech:
As a result of its endless reach, technology has the power to bring together people of different backgrounds, yet there have been many limitations in doing so due to bias in gender, race, sexual orientation, etc. This track aims to create a hack that empowers an underrepresented group of people.
Sustainability:
As the number of people facing the harsh consequences of climate change increases, sustainability continues to be a growing problem for the world that needs to be addressed. Hackers for this track will use their technical skills, as well, apply their critical thinking skills to develop a project that addresses a real-world environmental issue.
Social Impact:
Technology is a powerful tool that allows us to identify and combat real-world problems that billions of people face around the world today. This track will be assessed based on the project’s ability to propose a resolution for a social issue.
Most Random
What can you do that's most random? Go bananas!
Eligibility
Any student, 18 or older, is welcome to apply!
Prizes
$4,380 in prizes
Most Creative Usage of Twitter API
This prize aims to see how students can most creatively use Twitter. Winners will get a @TwitterDev blunt umbrella (each member).
General: 1st
1st place for General Track
MLH Medal
Galaxy Tabs
Topo Backpacks
Hydroflask Tumblers
A year of Wolfram|One Personal Edition and Wolfram|Alpha Pro to everyone in your top teams
General: 2nd
2nd place for General Track
MLH Medal
Beats Wireless
Y-Pack Backpacks
Spotify Gift Cards
A year of Wolfram|One Personal Edition and Wolfram|Alpha Pro to everyone in your top teams
General: 3rd
3rd place for General Track
MLH Medal
Hard Drives
Cord Organizers
Light pack backpacks
A year of Wolfram|One Personal Edition and Wolfram|Alpha Pro to everyone in your top teams
General: 4th
4th place for General Track
MLH Medals
A year of Wolfram|One Personal Edition and Wolfram|Alpha Pro to everyone in your top teams
General: 5th
5th place for General Track
A year of Wolfram|One Personal Edition and Wolfram|Alpha Pro to everyone in your top teams
Social Impact
Awarded to the hack with the best social impact.
3 month Audible subscriptions
Rocketbooks
A year of Wolfram|One Personal Edition and Wolfram|Alpha Pro to everyone in your top teams
Empowering Underrepresented People in Tech
Awarded to the best hack that empowers an underrepresented group of people in the tech field.
Backpacks
Dotted notebooks
Portable chargers
Sustainability
Awarded to the hack with the best appeal to sustainability.
Hydroflasks
Reusable straws
A year of Wolfram|One Personal Edition and Wolfram|Alpha Pro to everyone in your top teams
All Beginner
Awarded to the best hack created by a team of first time hackers.
Cracking the Coding Interview
Portable Chargers
A year of Wolfram|One Personal Edition and Wolfram|Alpha Pro to everyone in your top teams
Best UX/UI
Awarded to the hack with the best UX/UI
Rocketbooks
Design of Everyday Things
A year of Wolfram|One Personal Edition and Wolfram|Alpha Pro to everyone in your top teams
Most Random
Awarded to the most random hack. Go bananas!
Github T-shirts
Hammocks
Exploding Kittens
A year of Wolfram|One Personal Edition and Wolfram|Alpha Pro to everyone in your top teams
Best Use of Adobe XD
(4)
Use Adobe XD in any of the HackCU categories, showcasing your ideas best digital design solution and user experience!
Prize: Adobe Creative Cloud | 1- Year License | for each team member. Winners will have the opportunity to demo their solutions to Adobe professionals.
Best Use of TapWithUS SDK 1st Place
Use TapWithUs SDKs to build a custom integration and control any device
Prize: Tap Strap For each team member
MLH: Best Use of Google Cloud
Build your hackathon project with a suite of secure storage, powerful compute, and integrated data analytics products provided by Google Cloud.
Prize: Google Home Mini
MLH: Best Domain Registered with Domain.com
Domain.com provides all the domain services you need from registration to hosting to SSL certificates and beyond.
Prizes: Domain.com Backpacks
MLH: Best UiPath Automation Hack
Build an automation hack using UiPath!
Prizes: Skip the internship line with UiPath and a UiPath/MLH Branded Backpack
MLH: Best use of MongoDB Atlas
Create a hack using MongoDB Atlas to host a database in the cloud!
Prizes: Branded MongoDB AirCharge Plus
Dish Network Challenge 1st Place
Create a system to incentivize students to anonymously share a data value. Examples are mobile usage data, test scores or any other data set. Judging criteria: innovative use of technology, business value and impact, completeness of implementation, clarity of presentation. Bonus points for use of zero knowledge technology!
Prize: $50 Sling gift card for each team member.
Best Use of TapWithUS SDK 2nd Place
2nd Prize - Tap Hat for each team member
Best Use of TapWithUS SDK 3rd Place
3rd prize - Tap t shirt for each team member. Winning hack will have the opportunity to be featured on all of our social channels and promoted to Tappers worldwide.
Dish Network Challenge 2nd Place
Create a system to incentivize students to anonymously share a data value. Examples are mobile usage data, test scores or any other data set. Judging criteria: innovative use of technology, business value and impact, completeness of implementation, clarity of presentation. Bonus points for use of zero knowledge technology! Prize: $50 Sling gift card for each team member.
Dish Network Challenge 3rd Place
(3)
Create a system to incentivize students to anonymously share a data value. Examples are mobile usage data, test scores or any other data set. Judging criteria: innovative use of technology, business value and impact, completeness of implementation, clarity of presentation. Bonus points for use of zero knowledge technology! Prize: $50 Sling gift card for each team member.
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
TBD
Judging Criteria
-
Technology
How technically impressive was the hack? -
Design
How intuitive is the user interface and experience? -
Completion
How complete is the hack and was the team able to accomplish what they wanted to achieve? -
Learning
How much did the team stretch themselves to learn something new?
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
Tell your friends
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.