Treat all other Hackers with the utmost respect. Be kind to others. DO not insult or put down other Hackers. Behave professionally.

Remember that harassment and racist, sexist, or exclusionary jokes are not appropriate for any HackVCIS event. If at any point you see a fellow Hacker being harassed, it's your responsibility to talk to an Organizer. 

Treat Sponsors with the utmost respect. Without them, nothing would be possible. Take some time out of your work to go meet and speak with them. I reach out to talk to you give them a bit of your time. They're here for you! Show them you appreciate it.

 All teams retain full ownership of what they have created during the hackathon. Unless otherwise stated, teams can be anywhere from one to four members. 

Unless stated otherwise, all code, design, art, music, SFX, and assets must be created during the duration of the event to ensure a level field for all Hackers, except any public materials (public domain images, creative commons music, open-source libraries, and existing APIs and platforms, etc). We want to ensure that all Hackers start on the same footing and we also want to preserve the true nature of a hackathon. You are, however, free to make plans, create wireframes, and brainstorm before the event. Failure to comply may result in the offending team's disqualification.

Have fun! Hackathons are amazing and so are you. We're so happy you're able to hack with us and be a part of our amazing community. 

Open your mind. Hacking unites people from across the world and from different cultural norms, nationalities, and backgrounds. Be prepared not only to learn something new from your Hack but also from the amazing people around you. Be mindful of the fact that certain content and actions can make the people around you uncomfortable. If your hack contains material that might cross that boundary, talk to an HackVCIS staff member. They'll review it with the team and notify you if you should go forward. Don't waste 36 hours on a hack that you won't be allowed to showcase. 

Be the change you want to see in your local community. Never be afraid of competing based on where you come from or have preconceptions of grandeur because you come from a great school. One can achieve greatness at any time. You simply have to see it and grab it.