Students solve campus problems at first ever CMU Hackathon
Students listen to rules for Hackathon: Reimagine 2022 on March 25, 2022 in Grawn Hall.
Over 50 students participated in Central Michigan University's first Hackathon: Reimagine 2022 from March 25-26 in Grawn Hall.
Groups of students had 24 hours to select and solve a problem from a list of three unique categories: sustainability and transportation, student experience and mental wellness on campus.
Mentors and advisors were available for feedback.
Kaye Reimers, Community and Engagement Coordinator, said the event is an outlet for students to find solutions to issues at CMU.
“It’s mostly student driven,” Reimers said. “We want student driven solutions."
Students check into Hackathon: Reimagine 2022 on March 25, 2022 in Grawn Hall.
Senior Shashwat Maharjan was one of the 58 students participating.
He said he signed up for the event to prepare for a problem-solving conference he plans to attend in the near future. He opted to solve the transportation and sustainability issue at the Hackathon.
“We’d be looking at sustainable ways to get things done,” Maharjan said, “Transportation is the closest to engineering, and I’m a mechanical engineer major."
Along with being provided a place to work and sleep in Grawn Hall, students received dinner on Friday and Saturday night.
Students' final products were presented to a panel of judges at 3 p.m. on March 26.
Awards
Team Listening Chip, including Jordan Leh, Mackenzie Pollock and Yasaswi Avula, won the overall competition, earning a $1000 award. They created a website that offers students one-on-one counseling.
Team Ride and Go, including Emily Naegelin, Shashwat Marjan and Sunil Parvatina, took home a Best Solution award in the Sustainability and Transportation category with their creation of a carpooling app. It allowed students to order a ride and anyone needing to go to the destination could carpool.
Team Everyone Matters, including Neena Hudson and Ashfaq Sayeed, won Best Solution in the Student Experience category. The duo presented an ethnic cuisine establishment.
Team Meet Gabby, including Emma Daniel, Hannah Groothuis and Michael Leiby, won Best Solution in the Health and Wellness on Campus category. They presented a service that would help students access mental health resources without having to speak to a professional.
The two teams, Positive Thoughts and the Central Michigan Student Monorail System (CMSMS) won Judges' Choice awards.
Clarisa Smith and Justin Spivey, members of Positive Thoughts, presented a plan to improve mental health on campus. It included meetings for Residential Assistants, health stations around campus and revision of current regulations regarding mental health.
CMSMS, including Josh Gutowski, Matthew Couch, Grant Gascho and David Stanley, created a route for student travel by designing a prototype consisting of new parking lots and faster travel from north to south campus.
Reimer said she hopes to see the Hackathon on campus in future years.
