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Hesburgh Libraries Hackathon Event Guide

Judges

Judges are selected from across campus to ensure we bring a wide range of skills and perspectives to the judging process.

Brandon Rich

Lead Architecture Specialist
IT Strategy, Planning and Architecture

Larita Robinson

Senior Programmer
Hesburgh Libraries

Tim Weninger

Associate Professor
Computer Science and Engineering

Ian Alford

Manager, Enterprise Systems Unit
Hesburgh Libraries

Ron Metoyer

Associate Professor
Computer Science and Engineering

Presentations

Presentation Format

You are required to deliver your submission as a lightning talk of no more than 4 minutes. The presentation format is up to your team's discretion. Powerpoint, Prezi, Slides.js, command line, or mobile demo are popular formats. Take the presentation seriously. Not only is the presentation worth a full 10% of the judging criteria but it is your opportunity to help the judges understand how interesting, useful and unique your project is.

Presentation Order

Presentation order is randomly assigned and will be posted below by 1pm on Saturday.

Order Team Name
1 Team A
2 Team B
3 Team C
4 Team D
5 Team E
6 Team F
7 Team G
8 Team H
9 Team I
10 Team J
11 Team K
12 Team L
13 Team M
14 Team N

Judging Criteria

Each category has a weighted percentage that will be used to calculate the final score for each team.

Category Weight Description
Innovation 30% The project should take a unique, interesting, and creative approach to solving the problem(s) identified by this year's theme. This criterion looks at novel or cutting edge methods for user interaction, data manipulation and presentation, and use of new technology.
Impact 30% The proposed solution should have a significant impact on the challenges in using technology to promote community. For example, solutions could change the way users organize, communicate, schedule, or manage our personal, academic, or work lives.
Usability 15% Usability represents ease-of-use in engaging with content and services. The project should exemplify the highest standards of intuitive and elegant User Experience Design (UX). The project should easily, pleasantly, safely, and elegantly help users to connect with others and build community.
Technical Merit 15% The application was technically challenging to construct, requiring strong programming skills from the team. The team made wise choices in selecting conventional but creative components and libraries to construct the app. The the complexity and elegance of the back-end matches the front-end.
Presentation 10% Through the final presentation, the team should clearly communicate the final value of the project. The final presentation of the product to the judges should be professional, well-structured, and meaningful. Creativity, style, and engagement with the audience are key. The team may also wish to describe their process and developmental hurdles and how they overcame them.

Prizes

Main Prizes

The three main prizes for the Hesburgh Hackathon are awarded to teams who fulfill all of the criteria on the judging rubric. 

Prize Award
First Prize $3,000
Second Prize $2,000
Third Prize $1,000

Honorable Mention

Judges use their discretion in awarding up to 6 additional prizes under the category of Honorable Mention. Winners of the first, second and third-place prizes are not eligible for these prizes. These prizes are awarded to teams who may not have fulfilled all of the criteria of the judging rubric but who excelled in one single criterion.

Prize Award
Honorable Mention for INNOVATION $500
Honorable Mention for IMPACT $500
Honorable Mention for USABILITY $500
Honorable Mention for TECHNICAL MERIT $500
Honorable Mention for PRESENTATION $500

Judges may award one additional prize of $500 at their discretion. This prize is based on a success criterion or project feature of their choosing.