On Saturday, October 21, Honors College Connects (HCC) proudly hosted its third annual Nonprofit Hackathon. The day was filled with enthusiasm, creativity, and a desire to make a difference. Honors College students formed dynamic teams to brainstorm and provide innovative solutions to challenges faced around the community every day.
Every fall Honors College Connects hosts the HCC Hackathon in partnership with local nonprofits. Students divide themselves into groups based on their interests to tackle a challenge posed by the nonprofit partners. Each group is tasked with creating a unique solution as a team, utilizing feedback from other groups throughout the day.
While the event focused on giving back to the community, it also fostered connections among Honors College students. Amidst the fast-paced brainstorming and problem-solving sessions, participants took a break to enjoy lunch, and took photos to remember the day.
Chandresh, an HCC mentor, initially planned on playing the role of mentor but found himself actively participating and leading a team. Immersed in the Hackathon's ethos, he reflected on his connection to the human-centered design approach: “Being both a former HCC attendee and a current mentor, I've always valued this method."
Throughout the day, several ideas emerged, and one that stood out for Chandresh's team was the potential of Facebook Messenger, especially given its resonance with older audiences. Drawing from his background as a project manager, he steered his team through the brainstorming sessions and discussions. He noted, "Engaging with the varied challenges that nonprofits face always offers a fresh perspective. It's both meaningful and intriguing."
Cy J Pabis, with memories of the previous year's Hackathon and their role as an HCC Peer Mentor, eagerly dived into this year's event. "I was keen on assisting those newer to the HCC format," he shared. With a deep-rooted familiarity with the human-centered design, Cy's team was agile, adapting their approach based on feedback. One of the highlights for Cy was the chance to interact with and offer insights to another team, underlining the Hackathon's collaborative essence. Reflecting on the experience, he said, "The Hackathon brings to light the diverse aims and scopes of our local nonprofit sector. For instance, I was deeply moved by a nonprofit's mission to provide tutoring to children in disadvantaged communities."
The nonprofits that participated this year were:
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Computer CORE
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Formed Families Forward
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KEEN Greater DC
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Reading Partners
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Shepherd's Center of Northern Virginia