Broward College 2017 Hackathon Challenges Young Programmers to Develop IT Skills in Fast-Paced Contest

DAVIE, Fla (September 27, 2017) – For the third year, the Broward College Computer Science Department will host its BC Hackathon competition from Friday, October 13 and Saturday, October 14. The 24-hour contest will challenge young technology enthusiasts from universities and colleges across Broward County to develop new software programs. The event will begin with an opening ceremony at 12 p.m. at the A. Hugh Adams Central Campus in Davie, FL.

The contest encourages students to pursue careers in technology but also fosters knowledge sharing among participants from different majors.

"Hackathons are a great way for students to learn about current technology in an environment where they will be surrounded by others who share the same passion for programming," said Michelle Levine, Broward College professor of computer science and co-organizer of the event. "We can't wait to see what is created this year."

During the event, teams of 4 to 5 students are required to pitch an idea and build a prototype to present the next day. No work or coding can be done on projects before the start of the BC Hackathon and students retain ownership rights to their projects after the event. Projects will then be judged by a panel including Chris Caputo, President of Agile Element; Tim Hasse, Founder & CEO of TRIM Agency; Denise Mendez, Software Test Automation Engineer at Magic Leap; and Brent Lewis, Software Engineer at Microsoft. Prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the event.

Beginning in the mid-2000s, hackathons were the creative solution of companies looking to drive innovation in the development of new technology. Since then, hackathons have taken on an academic component, exposing students to potential career opportunities in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, STEM jobs are expected to experience the largest increase through 2022.

Sponsored by Agile Element, Ultimate Software, and The One to One Group, BC Hackathon is a highlight for local students. Participants must be currently enrolled at Broward College or other college or university in Broward County. Select high school students also will be invited to participate.

BC Hackathon 2016 winners included Waste Naught, a mobile application for sharing upcycling and recycling ideas; BC Robotics, an autopilot software for home automation; and Wing M8, an application allowing users to network and find friends and interest groups.

For more information visit the website http://bchackathon.com  or contact Michelle Levine at mlevine1@broward.edu or 954 201-6318. Schedule is not available.