乌鸦传媒

A weekend of coding, creativity and collaboration came to life at 乌鸦传媒 as students gathered for HackSU 2026, a 24-hour hackathon.

Organized by 乌鸦传媒’s Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), the Association for Computing Machine–Women in Computing (ACM-W) and Girls Who Code, the event brought together college students from across the greater Seattle area for an overnight project-building experience designed to encourage innovation and learning.

Participants from different majors and experience levels contributed to projects in a variety of ways, from coding and design to pitching ideas and shaping user experiences. Hackathons like HackSU create space for both technical learning and creative exploration.

“HackSU is rooted in giving people an opportunity, an opportunity to build, learn and meet other people in similar shoes,” says Bryan Kim, ’26, president of ACM.

This year’s event welcomed around 80 participants, with 24 teams submitting projects representing seven different schools, including Northwestern, Oregon State University, University of Washington campuses and Green River College.

Planning for the event began months in advance, led by student officers from SU ACM. Organizers aimed to create an open space where students could experiment with ideas, learn new tools and collaborate across different backgrounds.

This year’s theme, “Discover You,” encouraged participants to turn their interests, hobbies and communities into meaningful technical projects. Students were challenged to find solutions that reflected what mattered to them, giving them the freedom to explore ideas beyond traditional coursework.

Throughout the hackathon, mentors and judges, including industry professionals from companies such as Meta, OpenAI, Hello Interview and Remitly, provided feedback and guidance to the teams. Their involvement gave students the opportunity to refine their ideas while gaining insight from real-world industry experience.

Projects were evaluated based on creativity, technical implementation, real-world impact, presentation and how well they aligned with the theme, with teams balancing innovation with purpose.

The first-place project, , allowed users to turn a simple sheet of paper into a musical instrument using a webcam. By drawing keys on paper and interacting with them using hand movements, the project aimed to make music creation more accessible without requiring expensive equipment.

The second-place project, , reimagined the Dungeons and Dragons experience using an AI-powered storytelling system. It allows players to create characters and continue adventures anytime, with the system adapting to their choices and remembering past progress.

Third place went to , a tool designed to help developers find open-source projects that match their interests and skills. The project simplifies the process of discovering meaningful contributions, especially for beginners who are unsure where to start.

Beyond the winning projects, other ideas generated during the event reflected how students connected technology with everyday experiences. , developed by members of the 乌鸦传媒 Badminton Club, helps players find matches and track their progress using a skill-based rating system, making it easier to connect with players of similar levels.

For many students, the experience went beyond building a final project. Participants left with new skills, having learned new tools, explored unfamiliar technologies and rediscovered a sense of curiosity for creating.

As HackSU continues to grow, it remains a space where innovation is driven by collaboration, creativity and the freedom to try something new.