Hackathon: Coding for a Better CommunityShare this pageShare on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linkedin
Coding for a Better Community:
Work with a team to design an application that makes the world a little better!
HackathonGeneral Information
Specific topics will be presented by community members the day of the event. Working in a team you'll design, develop, and share your ideas. Professional mentors will be available onsite to help you, as needed. We'll have an exhibit at the end of the day where all teams will showcase their work.
Hackathon has two tracks:
The Youth Track is open to middle, junior high, and/or high school students, aged 13-18. No coding experience needed!
The Advanced Track is open to high school and college students aged 18 and above. You will need basic web development skills (e.g. HTML & CSS) as well as experience with a general purpose programming language (e.g. Java, JavaScript, C#). Passing a web development course, such as UWG's CS2100 Introduction to Web Development, and a CS1 course, like AP CS A or UWG's CS1301 Computer Science I, is strongly recommended.
Bring a laptop, an open mindset, creativity, and a lot of enthusiasm! We'll provide the rest.
Hackathon Tracks
Youth Track Schedule
Saturday, March 11, 2023:
- 9:30am - Check-in
- 9:45am - Opening talks & forming teams
- 10:30am - Code start
- 12:30pm - Lunch
- 3:00pm - Code stop
- 3:15pm - Presentations by teams of youth track
- 4:15pm - Presentations by teams of advanced track
- 5:00-5:30pm - Recognition of teams
What you need to bring:
We provide each team with a collaborative workstation, which includes a desktop computer. It is recommended that you also bring a laptop if you are able. We also recommend that you bring a mouse and a power cord for your laptop. Bringing additional laptops can help a team multi-task, if needed.
Friday, March 10, 2023:
Location: TLC, Room 1116
- 5:30pm - Registration
- 6pm - Opening talks
- 6:45pm - Forming teams and dinner
- 7:15pm - Project work in teams
- 8:30pm - Closing for the day
Saturday, March 11, 2023:
Location: TLC, Room 1116 (will move to Biology Building before lunch)
- 8:30am - Project discussion & breakfast
- 9:30am - Project work in teams
- 12:30pm - Lunch
- 3:00pm - Code stop
- 3:15pm - Presentations by teams of Youth Track
- 4:15pm - Presentations by teams of Advanced Track
- 5:00 to 5:30 pm - Recognition of teams
What you need to bring:
You need to bring a laptop. Don't forget a power cord for your laptop and possibly a mouse.
2023 Hackathon Location
Hackathon FAQsFrequently Asked Questions
- What is a Hackathon?
- Who Can Participate?
- Do I need to be part of a team?
- What if I can’t code?
- How much does it cost to participate?
- Can I implement any application?
- How do I register?
A Hackathon is a marathon where teams of students design and implement software within a very short time-frame.
For the Youth Track: The participants do not need to have already any technical skills, like programming experience, before the hackathon. Instead, they learn from each other and from mentors at the event.
For the Advanced Track: A Hackathon is a marathon where teams of students design and implement software within a very short time-frame. The participants do not need to be computing professionals, but typically they have some technical skills, like programming experience, before the Hackathon. Participants learn also from each other and from mentors at the event.
For the Youth Track: Teens, aged 13-18 who are currently in middle, junior high, and/or high school can participate.
For the Advanced Track: Any college student with web development skills (e.g. HTML & CSS) and experience with a general purpose programming language (e.g. Java, JavaScript, C#) can participate. If you are still in high school and at least 18 years old, you can participate in the advanced track as well. You do not have to be a computer science major, but we strongly recommend that you have passed a web development course, like UWG's CS2100 Introduction to Web Development, and a CS1 course, like AP CS A or UWG's CS1301 Computer Science I.
For the Youth Track: If you know other students, you can team up already before the Hackathon. But you can also join a team onsite. A team should consist of 2-3 students. Working on your own is strongly discouraged.
For the Advanced Track: If you know other students, you can team up already before the Hackathon. But you can also join a team onsite. A team should consist of 4 students. You cannot work on your own.
For the Youth Track: That is not a problem. We will get you started. Throughout the entire event, there will be professional mentors to help you code. We will use the Scratch programming platform from MIT that has been designed for youth programmers. Note that every team needs not only programmers, but also members that design, implement, and promote your team’s app. If you would like to play around in Scratch before the Hackathon, it's free, easy, and fun, and we highly recommend it!
For the Advanced Track: The participants do not need to be computing professionals, but typically they have some technical skills, like programming experience, before the Hackathon. Participants also learn from each other and from mentors at the event.
The early registration fee is $20 (+ $3 service charge) per participant
The regular registration fee is $30 (+ $3 service charge) per participant.
If you would like to participate, but you are not able to pay the registration fee, contact Anja Remshagen (hack@westga.edu, 678-839-6657), and we will try to work with you.
For the Youth Track: At the beginning of the Hackathon, a community leader will introduce an issue in our community that can be tackled through the development of an application using Scratch. You will have to stick with one of the introduced application options and with the required programming platform. Everything else is decided by your team.
For the Advanced Track: At the beginning of the Hackathon, a community leader will introduce issues in our community that can be tackled through the development of an app. You will have to stick with one of the introduced app options. Everything else is decided by your team. We hope you will bring your creativity to bear by finding novel solutions to these community issues.
For the Youth Track: Your parent or guardian will have to register for you. They will need to use the registration button in the banner at the top of this webpage.
For the Advanced Track: Use the registration button in the banner at the top of this page.