February was a busy month for tech students at SCSU, with students participating in two consecutive hackathons showcasing their creativity and problem-solving skills.
The first event, Huskies Hack, took place in the ISELF building and was sponsored by Immersion Data Solutions (IDS), FRSecure, the College of Science and Engineering (COSE), and two SCSU alumni. The hackathon saw seven teams tackle various challenges, including one presented by IDS, which involved tagging features in panoramic photos.
Three teams earned cash prizes for their projects. The 1st and 3rd place teams tackled the IDS challenge, impressing judges with their proposed solutions and technical progress on the challenge. The 2nd place team took a different approach, developing a matchmaking app that helps people in fighting sports connect with sparring partners. A total of eight mentors and judges, primarily SCSU alumni now working in the tech industry, provided guidance to participants throughout the event.
The following weekend, SCSU students traveled to St. Paul for the Hack the Gap Hackathon, an event focused on supporting historically underrepresented people in the tech industry. The hackathon drew participants from nearby universities and professional circles, with SCSU fielding the second-largest group after the University of Minnesota.
SCSU students worked alongside industry professionals and peers from other universities after hearing pitches for different projects. In the end, out of 16 teams, SCSU students were part of three of the four winning teams. The 1st place team developed a Somali language translation app specifically designed for medical appointments, addressing a critical need in the community.
These two hackathons provided invaluable experience for SCSU students, allowing them to show their talents to industry professionals and demonstrate their innovation and technical skills.
