I know. I know. You’ve just spent more time than you expected rooting for your NCAA basketball tourney bracket. I get it. But you know what’s better than your alma mater…? Everybody’s alma mater. Together. Combining forces. And now, it’s happening in hackathon form. Meet HackUP.
We’ve got the University of Portland. Oregon State. Portland State. University of Oregon. Portland Community College. Lewis and Clark. Reed… All churning out Computer Science and Engineering students. All within driving distance of one another. And yet — somehow — those students almost never end up in the same room.
That changes April 11-12.
A crew at the University of Portland is organizing what might be the very very first Portland large-scale intercollegiate hackathon. It’s a 24-hour build with students and industry folks in the same room, competing for prizes, and actually making things.
HackUP is Portland’s first intercollegiate hackathon: a 24-hour tech innovation marathon where students and industry leaders converge to network, compete for major prizes, and build something meaningful.
All university students. We strongly encourage non-technical backgrounds and first-time hackers to join as well as experienced coders. Whether you code, design, or problem-solve, all skill levels are welcome.
But here’s why this one matters to me. It’s not just a hackathon. It’s college students from different schools choosing to come together and build. In Portland. That’s the kind of cross-pollination this community has been missing. All in the name of hacking together awesome solutions and interesting products.
And they’re not just looking for hackers. They need mentors. People from Portland’s professional tech community who are willing to show up and get connected to the next generation. If you’ve got a few hours and some experience to share, they want you and your experience there. (I’m a poet. And I know it.)
For more information or to register as a hacker, a mentor, or a sponsor, visit HackUP.
