Teams of undergraduates proved their mettle and creativity as they left their mark on the annual HackUConn event, held this year over the course of a weekend that ended earlier this month. 

Billed as “Universities of Tomorrow,” the annual hackathon offered students a chance to apply their own solutions to issues in modern academia. The teams had 20 hours to apply their own ingenuity and talents and apply advanced technology, such as laser cutters and 3D printers, to accomplish their tasks. 

Additionally, the teams received mentorship from staff of the Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, several departments on campus, as well as UConn’s Technology Commercialization Services (TCS). The latter is the technology transfer and entrepreneurship wing of the Office of the Vice President for Research. 

The competition took place in the Werth Residence Tower in UConn’s Hilltop residence hall complex. About 75 students took part in the event, which included guest speakers and invaluable opportunities for the teams to interact with industry professionals. 

Aaron Rosman ’16 (CAHNR) ’21 MBA , the Werth Institute’s operation manager and fiscal officer, worked with the Institute’s students to plan and implement the competition. Their approach was simple: pose challenges based on the issues and realities impacting UConn undergraduates. From there, teams build on the talents and skills of the individual members, including first-time participants as well as experienced hackers. 

“Our biggest goal is that this an event for students by students,” says Rosman. “The student planning team can learn everything from how to get funding from sponsors to logistically planning an event. We try to provide students with as many skills as possible. They choose the theme every year, and no two years are alike.” 

“Universities of Tomorrow” focused on three categories that the teams could explore: 

• Curriculum and career – how students can apply what they learn to the workforce, such as skills gained from the Academic Achievement Center and the Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills 

• Quality of life and stress relief – working with the Student Recreation Center and Student Health and Wellness to establish healthy work-life balance 

• Systems and services – How to maximize and improve student experience in offices such as the Registrar, Financial Aid, and the Bursar. 

The 20 hours the teams were allotted were filled with more than just work amongst their partners. They received orientation, were offered mentorship, and listened to a keynote address from Abhijit Banerjee, UConn’s Associate Vice President for Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. 

“The students taking part in events like HackUConn are the inventors and entrepreneurs of the future,” Banerjee says. “The skills they demonstrate – including critical thinking and ability to adapt to challenges – are exactly what they will require in their future career endeavors. We are pleased to work with the Werth Institute to provide a forum for UConn students to apply their talents.” 

TCS experts also helped serve as judges for the different projects. Rosman credited TCS as an excellent bridge between UConn and the market economy, mirroring the purpose of the Werth Institute. 

HackUConn originated in 2016 as a small hackathon event designed for students focused on technology. The criteria eventually expanded to include undergraduates across a myriad of majors and programs.  

“The quality of this year was absolutely amazing,” Rosman says. “Based on the feedback I received from mentors, judges, and competitors, the quality of interactions between all three parties were genuinely exciting. I had students telling me how much they learned from judges, and vice versa! It goes to show you, when you bring different parts of a university together, there is so much to be gained. The connections made here will last a lifetime.” 

The following are the winners of the respective categories: 

Curriculum and Career  

Team CT: Sahil Patel ‘27, Ammar Alsadadi ‘25, Connor Lafferty ‘27 

• Developed a “Univisor” app to enhance student advising experience for students and relieve strain on faculty 

Systems and Services 

Quantum Advisors: Shai Verma ‘27, Tyler Brown ‘26, Parth Danve ‘27, Krish Sawant ’27, Harshit Yadav ‘22 

• Developed “AI Academic Advisor” to resolve class and exam scheduling conflicts during finals week 

Quality of Life and Stress Relief 

Concept JVM: Max Senchukov ‘26, Jennifer Gearin ‘28, Varshini Gopinathan ‘27 

• Developed “Disco App” to help students identify clubs and organizations that match their talents and interests