Imagine a campus the size of a city.<\/p>\n
Wouldn\u2019t it be great if there were an easier way to get from one end to another when you only have 15 minutes between classes?<\/p>\n
Or, if there were a better way of knowing when you were registering for classes that you would have to sprint from one end of campus to the other \u2013 in the rain, sleet, snow, or hail \u2013 to get from one class to the next on time?<\/p>\n
Or, if there was something that could be done to fix that college-life problem that you just haven\u2019t been able to stop thinking about since your first day on campus?<\/p>\n
Because as much as you might love being a college student, no matter how great a university might be, there\u2019s always something \u2013 be it something big, or just something small \u2013 that you hope could be done just a little bit better. A little bit smarter. A little bit more efficiently.<\/p>\n
Chances are that UConn undergraduates have a lot of ideas about what some of those things could be, which is why student organizers are inviting all undergraduate students to help imagine the \u201cUniversities of Tomorrow\u201d at HackUConn<\/a> 2025 \u2013 a hackathon event that aims to bring together young innovators and industry experts for a non-stop, fast-paced innovation and invention competition focused on improving the college experience for students all across the globe.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the past year leading up to HackUConn, I\u2019ve heard several suggestions from peers and friends about how to further improve their college experience,\u201d says Preethika Rao \u201927 (BUS), planning team co-lead for HackUConn. \u201cWe wanted to give many a chance to expand on these ideas with HackUConn this semester.\u201d<\/p>\n A hackathon is a chance for creative thinkers, problem solvers, and anyone eager to make a difference to come together for the greater good. Students of all majors and backgrounds are invited to collaborate and innovate solutions to real-world challenges, whether you\u2019re into design, business, marketing, or simply passionate about creating positive change.<\/p>\n First launched in 2016 as a way to help contribute to the University\u2019s now thriving and collaborative entrepreneurial culture, HackUConn is the University\u2019s flagship hackathon and an annual tradition \u2013 supported by the\u00a0Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation\u00a0<\/a>\u2013 that offers an opportunity for students to step outside of their comfort zone and gather ideas, attend workshops, gain insight from mentors, and compete for prizes during the 20-hour in-person event.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you have an idea, if you want to create change within your local community, then this is the innovation competition for you,\u201d says planning team co-lead Julian \u201cJuju\u201d Setiadi \u201925 (ENG).<\/p>\n This year\u2019s HackUConn will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 28 (with check-in starting at 4:00 p.m.), and will run until noon on Saturday, March 1, at the Peter J. Werth Residence Tower on the UConn Storrs campus.<\/p>\n Students are encouraged to register by Friday, February 21. Students can register individually and then join a team at the event, or have the option of building a team before the event and registering together, though teams cannot bring in prior work \u2013 hacking can only be done during the event\u2019s announced hacking period.<\/p>\n \u201cMany have this misconception that HackUConn is only for comp sci and engineering majors, but this isn\u2019t the case \u2013 no matter what your major is, you can definitely contribute to HackUConn and the team you eventually will become a part of,\u201d Rao says. \u201cIt\u2019s a great opportunity to make entrepreneurial ideas a reality. It\u2019s also a good way to gain exposure to various fields and make long-lasting connections with others participating in HackUConn as well as the judges.\u201d<\/p>\n Over the course of the 20 consecutive hours, the student teams will brainstorm, prototype, and pitch their solutions to a panel of judges, who then select the winning ideas.<\/p>\n Some previous HackUConn winners have gone on to pitch their ideas to UConn\u2019s Get Seeded<\/a>, which gives students opportunities to earn seed funding and mentorship through the\u00a0Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Education, or CCEI<\/a>, to help launch an entrepreneurial idea.<\/p>\n \u201cStudent participants can expect to learn more about themselves, figuring out how they can really challenge their minds to come up with innovative solutions,\u201d Setiadi says. \u201cWith HackUConn, there is nothing to lose and everything to gain. The event is a roller coaster of emotions, but I believe that you’ll come out of it knowing more about yourself than you did before. If you manage to win the event, that will also be a great accomplishment to add onto your r\u00e9sum\u00e9.\u201d<\/p>\n Each year, the planning team\u2019s hope for the event, according to Aaron Rosman \u201916 (CAHNR) \u201921 MBA, operations manager for the Werth Institute and advisor for the student organizing team, is to find a theme that students relate to, so they can take part in coming up with innovative ideas for change.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are not alone in your thoughts and feelings!\u201d says Rosman. \u201cThere are so many other students that share a similar viewpoint as you, and our goal is to connect you with them. Excitingly, you\u2019re already an expert on this year\u2019s HackUConn theme. By having step foot on our campus, you are prepared to be a part of our event. Help take your thoughts to the next stage and innovate what the university of tomorrow will look like with us!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n