Hackathons
What is a hackathon?
Hackathons are competitive events where programmers collaborate to create a solution to a existing problem, usually chosen from a specified category. Requiring rapid development of a product or presentation, they often take place over a day or weekend.
Why should you participate?
There are many benefits to participating in a hackathon! Hackathons offer the chance to earn hands-on problem-solving and coding experience. For beginners, hackathons are a platform to learn from and collaborate with more experienced programmers. Many hackathons even include workshops to help you learn new skills. For advanced students, hackathons are a way to apply what you know and showcase your technological genius. Plus, they look great on a resume!
Don't know where to start?
Look no further! East Carolina University’s ACM Student Chapter offers and attends several hackathons throughout the year. We would love for you to join us for the next!
ECU Spark
Spring Semester
March 24, 2023 marked our first Spark hackathon at ECU. Since then, it has become an annual competition that many look forward to. Every Spring semester, get ready to fire up your creativity and unleash your innovation, collaboration, and problem-solving skills in a full day event! You’ll have the opportunity to put your technical skills to the test and tackle big challenges with your innovative solutions. You’ll be able to showcase your technical skills, collaborate with like-minded individuals, and present your winning idea to a panel of judges! Plus, did we mention there are prizes? Save the date and mark your calendars; this is an event you won’t want to miss!
Our third annual Spark hackathon will be March 28th in SciTech 144A.
Register for Spark 2025 by clicking here:
FAQs
We are so happy that you are interested in participating in Spark! Closer to the event date, registration will open on the Pirate Experience. Please RSVP in the Pirate Experience. An RSVP is required for food.
While Spark is geared toward tech-based majors, all ECU students are welcome to join us! Whether you have years of experience or none, whether you are a Computer Science major or in the English department, we would love to have you! No matter who you are, you will be able to benefit from our challenging and collaborative environment.
Please bring a charger and a laptop with any software that you intend to use for your project. We will provide lunch and snacks, but feel free to bring extra water or food.
Manage-A-Hack
Spring Semester
A collaboration between East Carolina University ACM Student Chapter and SAM, Manage-A-Hack is ECU’s first-ever mini hackathon that brings business and computer science students together to collaborate on creating and presenting a minimum viable product! Teams produce a startup idea, curate a business proposal, and create a working prototype to demonstrate the solution to a panel of judges—all within five hours! Manage-A-Hack aims to close the gap between business and tech by providing individuals with a collaborative environment and first-hand experience of business and computer science majors working side by side. It allows students to learn from each other and experience how students with different backgrounds approach challenges. And food is provided!
A collaboration between ACM and SAM, Manage-A-Hack is ECU’s first-ever mini hackathon that brings business and computer science students together to collaborate on creating and presenting a minimum viable product! Teams produce a startup idea, curate a business proposal, and create a working prototype to demonstrate the solution to a panel of judges—all within five hours! Manage-A-Hack aims to close the gap between business and tech by providing individuals with a collaborative environment and first-hand experience of business and computer science majors working side by side. It allows students to learn from each other and experience how students with different backgrounds approach challenges. And food is provided!
A collaboration between ACM and SAM, Manage-A-Hack is ECU’s first-ever mini hackathon that brings business and computer science students together to collaborate on creating and presenting a minimum viable product! Teams produce a startup idea, curate a business proposal, and create a working prototype to demonstrate the solution to a panel of judges—all within five hours! Manage-A-Hack aims to close the gap between business and tech by providing individuals with a collaborative environment and first-hand experience of business and computer science majors working side by side. It allows students to learn from each other and experience how students with different backgrounds approach challenges. And food is provided!
HackNC
Fall Semester
HackNC is an annual student-led hackathon hosted by UNC-Chapel Hill. Participants attend workshops and demos while creating a technology-driven product in only 24 hours! Students from ACM@ECU were excited to attend for the past years. Working through the night, they collaborated to fight off exhaustion, showcase their skills, and create some pretty spectacular projects.
FAQs
You must register for the event on the official HackNC website. To register for ACM transportation to the event, fill out our HackNC Transportation Interest form.
Anyone is eligible for participating in HackNC! If you are interested in competing in a 24-hour collaborative event where you can showcase your technical skills and creativity, then you are encouraged to attend.
The event organizers provide meals/snacks and air mattresses for sleeping. You are encouraged to bring a sleeping bag or a pillow and blanket if possible. Please bring chargers and a laptop with any software that you intend to use for your project. Additionally, bring any supplies/toiletries/clothing items that you will need for the duration of the 24-hour event.