HackPSU is Penn State's student-run hackathon and the largest technology event at Penn State. Join us and hundreds of other students from across the world for 24 hours of innovation, creation, and fun! From seasoned coding veterans to first-time hackers in any major or field, students of all skill levels will find technologically engaging challenges, professional networking, educational resources, and plenty of entertainment throughout our event!
At HackPSU, participants can discover their ability to create change by developing technology to solve real-world problems through collaboration with your peers and industry professionals. They gain new technical skills by attending workshops and taking on challenges. Our games and performances scheduled throughout the event give participants an opportunity to take a break and will be sure to keep them entertained. The whole event is a great way to meet new peers, network with our sponsor companies, and have a total blast!
Requirements
All projects must be submitted by 12:00PM (noon) on Sunday April 2nd. Participants will have until the end of hacking time at 1:45PM on Sunday to continue editing their submissions, but they must be in place by noon to allow time to assigning tables at the judging exposition.
All code written for your submission must be attached to this submission (preferably by linking to a Github repository).
All team members must be listed on the submission so that prizes can be awarded accordingly.
In order to be eligible for prizes, at least one member of your team must present your project at the judging exposition, but the expo is not the only criteria for judging. The quality of the Devpost submission also plays a large part in our judges' deliberation, so make sure not to neglect it!
Prizes
HackPSU 1st Place
Awarded to the best overall hack at the event as determined by the five-point judging criteria. A total of $200 will be paid out via Amazon gift cards split evenly among the winning team members.
HackPSU 2nd Place
Awarded to the second-place overall hack at the event as determined by the five-point judging criteria. A total of $150 will be paid out via Amazon gift cards split evenly among the winning team members.
HackPSU 3rd Place
Awarded to the third-place overall hack at the event as determined by the five-point judging criteria. A total of $100 will be paid out via Amazon gift cards split evenly among the winning team members.
HackPSU Entertainment
Awarded to the hack with the best use of technology as a means of expression, including the ways we create, consume, and share content. A total of $100 will be paid out via Amazon gift cards split evenly among the winning team members.
HackPSU New Frontier
Awarded to the hack with the best use of emerging technology, including, but not limited to, artificial intelligence, virtual/augmented reality, blockchain, natural language processing, and Web3. A total of $100 will be paid out via Amazon gift cards split evenly among the winning team members.
HackPSU Social Impact
Awarded to the hack with the best use of technology to address social issues and make a positive worldly impact. A total of $100 will be paid out via Amazon gift cards split evenly among the winning team members.
M&T Tech
Challenge Details forthcoming. Each member of the winning team will receive a Nintendo Switch.
Capital One
Challenge details forthcoming. Each member of the winning team will receive $250 paid out via Amazon gift card.
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
HackPSU Organizers
HackPSU
Judging Criteria
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Creativity and Originality
Is the project novel, original and not-obvious? Does it approach a problem from an unusual or different perspective? -
Technical Skills
Is the project technically challenging relative to the team size? How intricate is the solution? Did developing this solution properly challenge the group? -
Implementation
Is the project functional and easy to operate for the target demographic? Is the solution viable and effective in addressing the problem statement? Does it reflect the quality of the outcome? -
Clarity
Did the team convey their ideas in a way that is understandable to the audience? Is their problem and proposed solution well-stated? How effectively does the team demonstrate the capabilities of their solution? -
Knowledge and Growth
Did the team learn something new? Did they use unfamiliar software or dive into an unfamiliar subject area? Does the team demonstrate knowledge of the subject matter gained during the hackathon?
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
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