Technica Celebrates 10th Anniversary with over 1,000 Participants

The Reckord Armory at the University of Maryland transformed into a bustling hub of creativity on October 26 and 27, 2024, as Technica celebrated its 10th anniversary. The event, renowned as the world's largest hackathon for underrepresented genders, drew participants from around the region to collaborate, innovate and showcase their technological skills. Since its inception in 2015, Technica has grown from a student-run event into a significant platform for promoting diversity and inclusion in tech. This year, the hackathon attracted over 1,000 participants with the support of 22 sponsors. 

The 24-hour hackathon included more than 35 interactive workshops on various subjects, such as augmented reality, game development and UI/UX design. 

High school students were among those who found inspiration at Technica. Salsawit Bade, a senior from Montgomery Blair High School, shared her motivation for participating.

"It was a chance for me, as a woman in tech, to gain experience in coding and other aspects," Bade said. "I want to be able to create either a website or an app because I've never had the experience to, and I want to apply those experiences where I'm around like-minded people."

The fast-paced environment of a one-day hackathon presents unique challenges, especially for newcomers. 

Dalys McGowan, a freshman from Oxon Hill High School, outlined her strategy for problem-solving under time constraints.

"I approach problem-solving in this fast environment by just using the resources that Technica provides," McGowan said. "There are many mentors available. I'll make sure to attend the Zoom meetings and try to gather information so that I can use it to create good hacks."

McGowan's past involvement in computer science added to her enthusiasm for the event.

"I attended a three-year coding camp during middle school that gave me experience with HTML, CSS, Python and JavaScript," she said. "The camp wly here at UMD. I also attend a computer science class at my high school now, which prepared me for this event."

Mentors played a crucial role in guiding participants through the hackathon. 

Kaushik Reddy, an applied engineering graduate student at UMD, mentored first-time hackers.

"One of the core things I shared with the new hackers is to use generative AI tools available online to get code faster," Reddy said. "They can save you time debugging, so you can focus more on defining the app rather than just building it. Resources like ChatGPT, VZero and Cloud AI can help."

As the event's final moments unfolded, participants took a renewed sense of purpose and community, inspired by a weekend filled with collaboration, creativity and the spirit of inclusivity. The event underscored the commitment to making tech a space where everyone can excel and innovate.

"Celebrating Technica's 10th anniversary reminds us how much this event has grown and transformed," said Department Chair Matthias Zwicker, who holds the Elizabeth Iribe Chair for Innovation and the Phillip H. and Catherine C. Horvitz Professorship. "It's more than just a hackathon; it’s a powerful space that champions diversity and cultivates leaders ready to redefine the tech industry. At UMD, supporting initiatives like this means fostering a future where innovation and inclusivity go hand in hand."

—Story by Samuel Malede Zewdu, CS Communications