VT Hacks for good
Student organizers more than doubled participation in the annual hack-a-thon, which this year was devoted to diversity and inclusion and service to others.
Salsa dancing, Virginia Tech therapy dogs, tote bag painting.
Oh, yeah, and coding. That, too.
No wonder the 11th annual, student-led VT Hacks event drew its largest ever crowd of coders, doubling participation from more than 300 last year to 630 in-person hackers in 2023. Together those coders produced 106 innovative projects focused on diversity and inclusion and Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) -- all between September 15-17.
"We are very proud of this accomplishment, but we're not stopping there," said VT Hacks Executive Director Krish Ganotra. "We are constantly looking to improve and have goals to make VTHacks 12 even larger. We're aiming for more than 1,000 attendees at VTHacks 12."
Hack-a-thons are the most accessible venue for getting students involved with technology and helping them develop new skills, network with industry leaders, and innovate solutions to real-world problems," Ganotra said.
Throughout the weekend, the 30 student organizers hosted workshops, Tech Talks, and professional development opportunities, as well as socializing and relaxation.
And prizes for winning teams!
- 1st Place Overall (M2 Macbook Air for each team member): LifeLens
- 2nd Place Overall (iPad Air for each team member): HokieLot
- 3rd Place Overall (32" Curved Monitor for each team member): SmartOH
- Best Hack Supporting DEI (42" 4K Smart TV for each team member): Virtual Fit Studio
- Best Ut Prosim Hack (Bose Headphones for each team member): Upskill.AI