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Launch Your Best Idea Yet!

Hackathon 2025

This event was conducted 100% virtually and offered at no cost to participants ages 13–18. Attendees collaborated with artificial intelligence, explored innovative thinking beyond its use, learned foundational technologies, strengthened teamwork skills, and developed sustainability-focused solutions. The event featured national participation and international partners.

Participants were invited to transform code into meaningful change.

What Participants Experienced

AI in the Loop: Participants utilized artificial intelligence as a collaborative tool rather than a replacement.

Technology × Impact: Teams designed solutions addressing sustainable business practices.

Inclusive Skill Levels: The event welcomed participants ranging from beginners to advanced practitioners.

Teaming Structure

Participants were assigned to teams of four to encourage diverse collaboration. Pre-formed teams were required to include four members; any remaining openings were filled by the organizers.

Since 2015

Originally launched as Codeathon, the event evolved into Hackathon, representing a long-standing commitment to creativity, problem-solving, and the development of future-ready skills.

Online Training Sessions: Training was conducted on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from 6:30–8:30 PM (EST), spanning November 3 through November 22, 2025.

Competition Weekends: The competition took place over two weekends: December 5–7 and December 12–14, 2025.

What Participants Built

An infographic displaying the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, each represented with an icon and color, including no poverty, zero hunger, good health, quality education, gender equality, clean water, affordable energy, decent work, industry innovation, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities, responsible consumption, climate action, life below water, life on land, peace, and partnerships.

Students collaborated in teams to design technology-enabled business concepts aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Each team developed a website addressing a real-world social challenge while cultivating essential 21st-century skills, including collaboration, creativity, problem-solving, online learning, and social entrepreneurship.

Prizes

A total prize pool of $1,000 was awarded to top-performing teams.

Meet Our Instructors

  • A man with short dark hair, smiling, wearing a yellow shirt, standing against a plain white background.

    Chris Gomez

    Senior Software Engineer, Freedom Pay

    Level I Instructor

  • Close-up portrait of a smiling woman with shoulder-length light brown hair and fair skin, wearing a purple top, against a colorful gradient background.

    Kerry Shots

    Group Product Manager, Adobe

    Level II Instructor

  • Close-up of a smiling man with dark hair and facial hair, wearing a black hoodie, indoors against a light-colored wall.

    Sai Krishna Gunda

    Senior Software Engineer, Walmart Global

    Level III Instructor

  • A man wearing glasses and a red jacket taking a selfie inside a building, with a window behind him showing cars and street outside.

    Dr. Sougata Bhattacharya

    St. Xavier's School, Burdwan, India  
    Level I Instructor

HUGE THANKS TO OUR HACKATHON SPONSORS & PARTNERS!

Microsoft logo with colorful square icon and gray text
Logo of Nebula Academy featuring a purple and blue globe with a ring around it, and the words "NEBULA ACADEMY" in bold black letters.
Green background with a white, tilted geometric logo resembling an abstract house or building.
The logo for Louisville, Kentucky, with the letters L, U, C, and E in red on a white background.
Logo of Workforce Development Institute with a blue star and a curved green and blue line, along with the text 'Workforce Development Institute' in blue.
St. Xavier's School, Burdwan Logo

Winners (US Hackathon)

First Place Winners: BreatheSpace

Students: David Aje, Ashley Hassell, Mary Akanki, Mircea Savan Bucurestian

This team won first place for addressing student mental health with an accessible, student-built solution. Their prototype offers instant, free support through AI-powered check-ins, journaling, and crisis resources, tackling long counselling waitlists and high therapy costs. Using modern web technologies, they created a clean, intuitive, and visually appealing website aligned with global goals for health and education.

View Project

Second Place Winners: PathMatch

Students: Jayden Abraham, Violet Cole, Marleny Rivera, Akshara Harkar

This team created a career-matching platform focused on helping job seekers move from uncertainty to stability and purpose. Their solution uses a quick, easy-to-use aptitude assessment to identify individual strengths and match users with stable, well-paying roles in real demand. By prioritizing clarity and accessibility, they provide direct guidance and confidence to help users stop struggling and start building long-term career success.

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Third Place Winners: RecycleRight

Students: Sarang Menon, Jacob Madrid, Jessica Tu, Hazim Mohammed

This team developed a sustainability-focused solution to reduce recyclable waste ending up in landfills. Their platform simplifies recycling by helping users correctly identify materials and understand proper disposal methods. By making recycling guidance clear and approachable, they empower individuals to adopt more sustainable everyday habits.

View Project

Thank You for Making This Hackathon Possible

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Thank You for Making This Hackathon Possible *