What is T9Hacks?

T9Hacks is a 24 hour, beginner level, in-person hackathon, encouraging exploration and learning just as much as creation and development. University students of all experience levels are welcome to join.

It is entirely free for participants and we will provide four catered meals throughout the event. Prizes for main track competition tracks average to $100 per person (in a winning group up to four people) and secondary awards average to $50 per person. Our sponsoring companies (including local brands like Medtronic and SciTec) will be present at the event to support participant efforts and recruit for possible job opportunities.

We strive to create a place for anyone who has ever felt separated from others within the STEM due to some aspect of their identity, whether that be gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disabilities, mental health, or any number of marginalizing aspects. T9Hacks is a place to build a community of support as we all learn and grow in our respective fields.

Competition Tracks

Each participant/group can only win one main competition track.

• Make a game, any game - design, create, or remix a game. This can present as a rudimentary coded game or as the ideation/wireframing/ruleset/dev work necessary to create a game. Alternatively, develop a unique/alternative controller to a pre-existing game.
• Community - how might we foster a healthy online community? Is it possible to combat misinformation and polarization in society?
• Color/Diversity - what is your own unique flavor? From personal identity, race, gender presentation, etc to exploring "impossible colors'' in the light spectrum, this category is all about what color means to you.

Secondary Awards

Secondary awards may stack with the main competition track awards.

• Best Beginner Hack
• Best Use of Theme: Outer Space
• Organizer's Choice
• SciTec Award for Best Use of C++/Python
• Plex Award for Best Media Companion

$3,448 in prizes

• Innovation
  Has there been precedent research into similar projects? How well does this project innovate on pre-existing ideas/technologies?
• Academic Quality
  Has the team displayed an increase of knowledge? Did they learn anything during the course of making this project?
• Feasibility
  Has the team created a project that offers an attainable/realistic endgame? Can it be replicated in a sustainable way?
• Social Impact
  Is the problem the project is trying to solve important? Has the team created a project that will make a lasting and positive impact on the community?
• Demonstration and Defense
  How well planned out and documented was the project? Did the team defend their idea well?
• Quality of Results
  How well did the team execute their idea? Was there intent?
• Level of Enjoyment
  Are all team members satisfied with the project results? Did they enjoy themselves during the event?
• Game Track Specific Question
  Is the game engaging? While games do not have to be fun, how satisfying is the interaction (or planned interaction)?
• Community Track Specific Question
  How well has the team examined the current state of community online? Does their project seem to address the issues that they identified?
• Color Track Specific Question
  How well has this project displayed the team's individuality (however they may have interpreted the prompt)?