Hackathon Invites St. John’s Students to Build, Code, and Innovate

More than 60 St. John’s University students eager to collaborate in the design, construction, and presentation of original tech projects attended a two-day computer science showcase hosted by The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies (CCPS) on February 7–8.

“St. John’s Hacks,” held in St. Augustine Hall, encouraged undergraduate and graduate students, as well as some recent alumni, to innovate, apply knowledge, and search for solutions to computer science challenges. The hackathon, which was open to all skill levels, including beginners, explored emerging themes in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and machine learning, emphasizing the real-world application of technical skills.   

Students formed teams of two to four members, selected a computer science challenge, and worked throughout the two-day event to develop functional solutions. One of the challenges came courtesy of Headstarter, an engineering and tech company founded by alumnus and former President of St. John’s chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), Faizan Ahmed ’22CCPS, ’23M.S.

Alumni and current members of the St. John’s ACM executive board mentored less experienced students. Winning team members in the two challenges shared a small cash prize.  

“It was a truly transformative experience for students of any programming level,” said graduate student Lauren Rodriguez, who is pursuing a Master of Science degree in Data Science. “It was inspiring to see students work alongside each other toward a common goal beyond the classroom—building meaningful solutions that open doors to real-world opportunities like internships and career growth.”

“It affirmed my belief that hackathons are catalysts for positive change and are vital in a technologist's life,” added Tomas Santo Yciano, who is also pursuing a master’s degree in data science. “We are committed to bringing the best possible hackathons to the St. John’s community each year.”

Hackathons are intensive training experiences often held over one or two days in which teams of designers and developers work to solve specific challenges, often collaborating to build working software or hardware prototypes. The intense, hands-on experience enables rapid skill development.

St. John’s and CCPS have been hosting hackathons for several years. The 60-plus students represented the largest participant turnout in school history. It also marked the first time “St. John’s Hacks” expanded into a two-day, 30-hour experience.

“It was inspiring to see more than 60 students attend the event and collaborate on projects, showcasing what they learn in the classroom,” said Joan E. DeBello, Ed.D., Professor and Chair, Division of Computer Science, Mathematics, and Science at CCPS. “I was proud of our executive board students, who worked tirelessly for months planning such a successful event.”

Students said the experience simulated real-world product development in a deadline environment, cultivating skills that will be essential in their lives as programmers, cybersecurity professionals, and other related professions.    

“Working within a limited time frame to design, build, and present a solution strengthened my technical skills while also driving personal growth and self-awareness,” graduate student Sebastian Torres said. “It forced rapid decision making, prioritization, and collaboration, which is important and applicable in the real world.”

Students were even surprised by a visit from Johnny Thunderbird, who brought his own energy to the event. “It was an excellent opportunity to gain a sense of real-world programming,” junior Justin Cracchiolo said. “The format enabled participants to encounter every part of modern programming—design, implementation, the bug-testing phase, and presentation.”