Tech Tackles Inequity in Record-Setting Hackathon

By NICHOLAS GITSIN

A swarm of tech-savvy hornets flooded the halls to compete in the Fifth Annual Wendy Menard Memorial Hackathon on Saturday, December 10. Participants were given four hours to conceptualize and present a technological innovation that combats inequity. After a two-hour deliberation, the Hackathon judges awarded the win to three teams, more than in any previous year.

The winning projects were “AP Class Inequity,” led by Ariane Charles ‘24 and Sawyer Wizemann ‘23, “Asoni,” led by juniors Mathew Hoang, Emily Mei, Rasul Mohammad, and Yaqi Hong, and “PPG++,” led by seniors Cathy Zhang, Leyli Zeynalova, Akmaral Tezekbaeva, and Orobosa Eguavoen.

AP Class Inequity is a website that provides resources to students who have limited access to AP classes so they can study for and take AP exams virtually.

“Colleges look into the rigor of your classes, so taking AP courses helps you to get into a good school,” Charles said. She believes that her website can level the playing field for students in schools that lack AP classes.

Asoni helps neurodivergent students study by breaking down assignments into smaller and more manageable tasks. The website also includes small games that help students with autism and ADHD maintain focus, Mohammad explained.

PPG++ is a chip that will be attached to currently used PPGs (machines that measure blood oxygen saturation and pulse) to ensure accurate readings regardless of a person’s skin tone. The chip’s inventors hope that this device will end the injustice of cardiac illnesses going undiagnosed in people with darker skin tones.

The teams behind AP Class Inequity and Asoni will be moving on to the Emoti-Con, a citywide version of the Hackathon currently scheduled for late spring. Mr. Samuel Keener, a veteran judge at Midwood’s Hackathon, will coach the teams as they polish up their prototypes ahead of the event.

“I feel really excited [about going to the Emoti-Con] because I get to work with my partner on developing our website further,” Charles said.

“Basically, we are going to turn it into something that wasn’t obviously made in four hours,” Wizemann added.

Even teams that didn’t win had a lot to gain from the Hackathon.

Patricia Lazo, the AP of the math department, said, “Not only were students doing research, they were also creating projects and presenting to their peers. These are all important skills that they are going to have to bring into college and into future careers.”

“I think it was great for students to come together, brainstorm ideas, and be able to problem solve,” said judge Ms. SueAnn Seccafico. The Hackathon forced students to come out of their comfort zones and learn new things, she added.

A team of seniors discuss their app A.I. Med. *Photo: Nicholas Gitsin*

Despite its academic nature, this event was no snoozefest.

“[The Hackathon] gives kids an opportunity to have fun as a team and really flex their creative muscles,” said Mr. Keener.

“It was a lot of fun,” said participant Amir Nabiyev ‘23. “We were under a lot of pressure, but it was great to struggle and come up with ideas together.”

This year’s Hackathon had a record-setting attendance. 85 students in 22 groups competed in the event, beating last year’s record of 79 participants. This Hackathon also featured nine judges, topping last year’s six.

Many students without coding experience participated in the Hackathon, making the event more inclusive and less intimidating for students, said judge Ms. Shahibun Alam.

“We want students to just jump in,” said Mr. Albert Peterson, a Hackathon judge and Midwood’s AP of programming. One big deterrence that stops students from trying new things is the fear of failure, he said.

Even students new to computer science finished on the podium.

“I don’t like coding – I don’t even like interacting with electronics,” said Tezekbaeva, a member of the winning team that created PPG++. Tezekbaeva said that she participated to have fun with her friends.

The Hackathon “gets a lot of students who may not have wanted to participate in coding to come in and build experience,” Ms. Seccafico said. “And maybe, they will eventually decide that they want to take a computer science class.”

But regardless of experience or outcome, participants impressed the judges with their creativity and social awareness.

“I heard about issues that I didn’t even think high school students were concerned about, so their consideration of others really impressed me,” said judge Mr. Jonathan Rafferty.

“I have always known that Midwood students are good problem solvers, but they’ve shown that they are good people too,” Mr. Keener said.

The judges organized a break room stock-piled with free snacks and drinks. While most participants ate breakfast, several teams opted for a power lunch where they ate and brainstormed with their teammates in the middle of the competition, adding a homey atmosphere to the event.

While event organizers said that they were happy with the outsized attendance at this Hackathon, they hope that even more students will join next year.

“The more the merrier!” said Ms. Seccafico.