hackUMBC

hackUMBC is UMBC’s official student-run hackathon, best known for hosting the university's annual 24-hour event each fall. It brings together students of all backgrounds and skill levels to learn new technologies, collaborate on creative projects, and build software or hardware solutions in a supportive, hands-on environment.

The event takes place on September 26th-27th in the ITE and Engineering Buildings at UMBC. Participants can work alongside fellow students to bring their ideas to life while developing skills through engaging workshops. Whether you are working solo or in teams of up to four members, you are encouraged to create anything you want, including web, mobile, hardware, and desktop projects. However, building upon existing projects is strongly discouraged as they will not be eligible for prizes.

Competitors can vie for prizes across various domains such as AI/ML, Health, Sustainability, and Education. The event features unique challenges hosted by campus club partners and real-world challenges from industry sponsors, along with fun or creative focuses for projects and sub-categories. Workshops for beginners are readily available to ensure everyone has a chance to learn something new.

Any high school or university student is welcome to participate; you do not need to be a UMBC student, though the event is held on campus. While travel reimbursements are not offered this year due to budget limitations, the organizers aim to make the weekend worth the trip with lots of fun activities, amazing prizes, and swag for all participants. Meals accommodate all dietary restrictions, including vegan, vegetarian, halal, gluten-free, and common allergies. Participants are also allowed to come and go as needed if clearing the whole weekend is challenging.