Welcome to the 11th annual iteration of WHACK, the Wellesley College hackathon! Students from colleges throughout the world will come together for 24 hours to turn their ideas into reality.
Whether you’re a seasoned developer or designer, or just starting out as a beginner, there’s something at WHACK for you. We’re absolutely beginner friendly!
You’ll enjoy a weekend of awesome tech, swag, workshops, and mini-events while learning from distinguished speakers, inspiring mentors, and peers. We consider WHACK a success if you make new connections and gain skills that will stay with you long after WHACK is over.
Requirements
VIDEO LENGTH
For your video demo submission we require videos be no longer than 3 minutes. Our judges will stop watching after 3 minutes.
INTERNATIONAL SUBMISSION POLICY
Any prize awarded to teams will be in US specific (and potentially Canada depending on prize). This includes shipping only to the US and any gift cards in USD.
CROSS EVENT SUBMISSION POLICY
We will only accept projects completed during WHACK. Any project found to have been completed previous to Nov 6-7 or cross submitted to another hackathon will result in disqualification.
Prizes
Best Impact Hack
This hack makes a profound impact by fostering understanding among diverse cultures and languages. It promotes inclusivity, unity, and communication, playing a vital role in breaking barriers and bringing people together. Winners of this prize will each receive an MLH Winner Pin and a JBL wireless speaker!
Most Readily Employable
This hack that stands as a complete and functional solution, ready for immediate use. It emphasizes innovation, rewarding not just completed projects but those showcasing creative problem-solving approaches. Winners of this prize will each receive a mini projector!
Best Community Hack
This hack excels in connecting and enhancing community relationships through technological means. It addresses community challenges, facilitates communication, and promotes engagement among its members. Winners of this prize will each receive a Hydroflask water bottle!
Best UI Hack
This hack boasts the most exceptional user interface—beautiful, user-friendly, and highly interactive. It appreciates the aesthetic and functional elements, emphasizing an intuitive and engaging user experience that stands out among its peers. Winners of this prize will each receive a keyboard!
Most Ambitious/Best Idea Hack
This prize applauds the hack that embodies ambition and the best conceptualization, irrespective of its complete implementation. It appreciates visionary thinking, groundbreaking ideas, and forward-looking solutions that have the potential to make a substantial impact. Winners of this prize will each receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card!
Best Beginner Hack
Recognizing the value of learning and growth, this category celebrates the best hack developed by a team with two or more beginners. It values creativity, teamwork, and the learning journey, regardless of the complexity of the solution. Winners of this prize will each receive a $25 Amazon gift card!
Best Use of MongoDB Atlas
M5GO IoT Starter Kit
MongoDB Atlas takes the leading modern database and makes it accessible in the cloud! Get started with a $50 credit for students or sign up for the Atlas free forever tier (no credit card required). Along with a suite of services and functionalities, you'll have everything you need to manage all of your data! Build a hack using MongoDB Atlas for a chance to win a M5GO IoT Starter Kit for you and each member of your team.
Best Use of Streamlit
Pimoroni PicoSystem Handheld Programmable Gaming System
Want to take your Python skills to the next level? Streamlit is an open-source Python library that makes it easy to build and share custom web apps for machine learning, data science, and more. Instead of writing Python scripts without a UI, you can create a beautiful web app, complete with widgets and data visualizations, and deploy it for free to the Streamlit Community Cloud. You can even build a fully functional LLM-powered app with just 25 lines of code! Hack with Streamlit this weekend for your chance to win a Pimoroni PicoSystem programmable gaming system for you and each member of your team.
Best Use of Microsoft Cloud for Your Community
LinkedIn Premium 12-Month subscription and Xbox Ultimate 3-Month Game Pass
Bring your idea to life using the Microsoft Cloud - automatically build and deploy a full stack web app from a code repository, create and train a Machine Learning model, develop business applications with little to no code using Power Platform, and more! View our recommended popular solutions in the Education Hub at https://aka.ms/startedu.
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Build your hackathon project with the Microsoft Cloud that tackles a social impact issue of your choice, and have a chance to win a LinkedIn Premium 12-Month subscription and an XBox Ultimate 3-Month Game Pass.
Best Domain Name from GoDaddy Registry
Hack from Home kit
GoDaddy Registry is giving you everything you need to be the best hacker no matter where you are. Register your domain name with GoDaddy Registry for a chance to win a Hack from Home Kit! Each Kit contains wireless earbuds, blue light glasses, selfie ring light and a pouch for easy transport.
Best Use of Kintone
Breadboard IoT Kit
Still not sure what backend to use in your hack? Kintone is a low-code web database that lets you set up your backend in minutes. It's beginner friendly, allowing you to customize your Kintone app using nothing but JavaScript and HTML. If you're interested in IoT, your team can snag a FREE microcontroller by signing up for Kintone and visiting the MLH table. If you use Kintone in your hackathon project, you'll have a chance to win a breadboard IoT kit to power up the hardware hacking for each member of your team!
Best Financial Hack with Capital One
$250 Amazon Gift Card
Capital One would like to challenge everyone this weekend to create the best financial hack. While it’s not necessary to use, Capital One also has an awesome API you can utilize for your hack this weekend! http://api.nessieisreal.com/. Each member of the winning team will receive a $250 Amazon gift card.
Best Usage of CI/CD sponsored by CircleCI
CircleCI Swag Pack
Have you ever wondered how professional developers from companies like Peloton & Samsung collaborate and ship code to production? For one, they use continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) platforms like CircleCI to help automate testing, versioning, deployment and so much more. Whether you’re looking to learn a new skill, practice coding, or hack with friends, CircleCI can help you to utilize the best development practices possible when approaching a new project, however big or small. Use CircleCI in your next hack for a chance to win some awesome CircleCI swag, including a branded mug, beanie, socks and stickers!
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
Yoolim Kim
Wellesley College
Alexa VanHattum
Wellesley College
Jordan Tynes
Wellesley College
Vinitha Gadiraju
Wellesley College
Judging Criteria
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Most Readily Employable
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Best Wellness Hack
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Best Community Hack
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Best Beginner Hack
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Most Ambitious Hack
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Best UI Hack
Questions? Email the hackathon manager
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