SparkHacks spurs innovation
Introduction
SparkHacks, UIC’s largest student-run hackathon, brought together nearly 300 students in February for a 24-hour project design competition.
Students collaborated with mentors, including UIC alumni, to build 69 innovative projects tackling real-world challenges. Organizers held workshops before the hackathon to teach students about managing databases and building dashboards, and they also created a no-code track for students who do not have a computing background.
Winning projects included a collaboration platform for film professionals, a short narrative game involving productivity and self-care at an internship, and a real-time equipment lifecycle simulation.
Hosted in partnership with the Department of Computer Science, SparkHacks has been
bringing students together to innovate since 2023. “A lot of students come to hackathons not to build like a startup, but to get experience,” said Kaito Sekiya, a senior in computer science. “The way it translates to success is they get something they can put on their resume and show off that recognition.”