Editor’s note: The second HackDuke event this past weekend drew some 300 college students who came together to code for the benefits of nonprofits, not themselves. Sarah Bill reported the story for ExitEvent. This post is the latest in the news partnership between ExitEvent and WRALTechWire.
DURHAM, N.C. - College students from around the country sit in Duke University’s Gross Hall auditorium with backpacks and duffel bags scattered around them.
They are ready to spend the whole day and night coding new software at the second annual HackDuke. While most hackathons involve programmers competing to create new technology in a short amount of time, this event has a twist on the traditional approach.
At HackDuke, the students form teams to create real solutions for local nonprofits, not just technology for a business purpose or personal gain. In fact, none of them will win any prize money. Instead, the winners of the event choose a nonprofit to receive donations in their name.
A little history
HackDuke co-coordinator Ashley Qian said this year’s two-day event, held on campus this past weekend, was the first of its size regionally to bring together college students and non-profit experts to solve real social issues plaguing communities. Its purpose was to allow students of all majors to experience what its like to build a product from scratch and to use it to make a difference.
The full story can be read at ExitEvent.
