Technica Brings Students Together for Weekend of Coding

Students gathered at the College Park Marriott Hotel and Conference Center on Oct. 17-18 for Technica 2026, a student-organized hackathon that brought together participants with different levels of programming experience for a weekend of coding, workshops and collaboration.

Now in its 12th year, the University of Maryland event welcomed over 1,000 in-person and virtual participants under the theme "Dare to Dive." Technica is the world’s largest hackathon celebrating underrepresented genders, giving beginners and experienced programmers a space to build projects and learn from one another. Mentors, volunteers and industry representatives offered technical guidance as teams worked toward their final demonstrations.

The weekend concluded with awards recognizing projects that explored a range of technology applications. Winning entries included tools that addressed digital accessibility, personal health management, online privacy and financial literacy, as well as educational games focused on environmental issues. Additional awards recognized beginner projects and entries developed for sponsor challenges.

For Maelle Nghonda, a sophomore graphic design student at Montgomery College, the hackathon offered a chance to apply her interest in programming outside the classroom. Nghonda began experimenting with code in middle school after being introduced to Scratch, a visual programming platform.

"I liked the idea of seeing my creations come to life," Nghonda said. "And I always took at least one programming class from middle school until college."

At Technica, she planned to develop a social networking platform for college students that would help users find study partners, exchange notes and locate textbooks. The concept also included direct communication between students and faculty and a customizable, AI-powered study companion.

Nghonda said she wanted to see how projects take shape in a competitive environment and learn from students at other institutions.

"It's been easy to get along with other students and students from all over Maryland and D.C.," she said.

Darian Vadakkoot, a junior at Westfield High School in Fairfax County, Virginia, brought experience in artificial intelligence, web development and Python to Technica. His team was still considering project ideas when the event began, but he said they wanted to develop something that could address a practical need.

"We hope to work on something useful that people might really need right now, and there are many things we can address,” Vadakkoot said. “This is the right place to make that happen.”

While building a project was part of his goal, he also wanted to expand his knowledge of programming languages and meet others interested in technology.

Participants could seek assistance from mentors and volunteers throughout the weekend, including guidance on developing project ideas and addressing technical challenges. According to Claire Chen, Technica's co-director and a UMD computer science senior minoring in Asian American studies, questions about artificial intelligence have become more common as students explore how to incorporate the technology into their work.

"I've seen a lot more questions in Technica and also other hackathons that I've attended as a hacker regarding how to use AI models and how to use AI to improve workflows," Chen said.

Chen said she views AI as a tool to help participants organize ideas, develop projects and prepare demonstrations, rather than replace the work involved in a hackathon.

Her perspective is also shaped by her experience as a former participant. Chen first attended Technica in high school and said the connections she made there influenced her decision to study computer science at UMD.

"After my early experience at Technica, I realized that I found a safe community and space within the tech field," Chen said.

Having returned to support participants, Chen said the event can influence how students approach technology long after the competition ends.

"One thing that I think people really take with them is the impact and inspiration to pursue a field in technology," she said.

—Story by Samuel Malede Zewdu, CS Communications

Technica 2026 winners

• Fin-tastic Design: Best UI/UX Hack — LURE

An ocean-themed interactive experience that teaches users to identify deceptive website designs, known as "dark patterns," through a simulated free trial and an opportunity to redesign misleading interfaces.

• A Sea for All: Best Accessibility Solution — Spoken.ai

An application that uses an AI voice agent to contact local service providers, negotiate prices and compare offers, allowing users to request services through photos and text rather than phone calls.

• Deep Sea Gamechanger: Best Gamification Hack — Clawcean

An AI-powered claw machine game that teaches students about microplastics and ocean pollution through interactive activities focused on plastic waste and its environmental effects.

• Calming Currents: Best Active-Wellness/Health Hack — Nari

An AI-powered menstrual wellness application that helps users track symptoms, identify patterns that may require medical attention and prepare summaries for health care appointments.

• Dive into Equity: Best Hack for Social Good — Earth Vanguard

A story-driven space shooter featuring different playable characters and voice-controlled gameplay, including an underwater sequence addressing ocean pollution, with accessibility incorporated into its design.

• The Little Mermaid: Best Beginner Hack (Middle and High School) — Ecosphere

An interactive website combining AI-powered questionnaires, ocean visualizations and a simulation game to demonstrate how everyday decisions affect the environment.

• Uncharted Waters: Best Beginner Hack (College) — CarePulse

A chronic illness management platform that allows patients to track symptoms, medications and appointments while using AI to organize information for patients and health care providers.

• Best Shell-ucation Hack: Best Education Hack — ASL Arena

An interactive American Sign Language game that uses real-time hand tracking to allow players to compete against one another.

• Rising Tide: Best Startup Track Hack — ClearSpace

A privacy-focused hidden camera detection tool that uses patterned light flashes and changes in Wi-Fi traffic to identify potential cameras without accessing or storing private user data.