November 6th 2023.
The roar of the Jackson State University Tigers echoed throughout Fort Worth, Texas on November 5th as they clinched the top spot in the BLACK ENTERPRISE 8th Annual BE Smart Hackathon. Hosted by American Airlines, the Hackathon provided an opportunity for students to demonstrate their technical skills and to be recruited for internships and full-time jobs.
This year's Hackathon was the largest gathering to date with 180 students from 25 of the nation's historically Black colleges and universities forming 34 teams. American Airlines also provided technical staff to mentor each team and guide them in preparing their presentations to the judging panel of American Airlines execs.
The team, TICODE, consisted of five members: Devin Brown, Khadari Johnson, Khaylah Rose, Brandon Newton, and Mahlangu Nzunda. All of them were either junior or senior computer science or computer engineering majors. Although TICODE had competed in the Hackathon last year, they did not place in the top five. But this year, they made a comeback with their winning application, SOAR.
SOAR is a travel assistant app that would streamline the airport experience “from check-in to post-flight assistance”, according to their presentation. It is designed to reduce queues, offer clarity, and provide support during unexpected circumstances. For Khaylah Rose, a JSU junior from Hollywood, Florida, winning the Hackathon put her one step closer to her career in computer engineering.
“In a field that constantly changes, winning shows how flexible I can be when it comes to technology and innovation”, said Rose. “This competition has challenged me on all aspects of the tech industry: from business to technology to creativity. Winning has motivated me to learn exponentially.”
Coming in second place was Florida Memorial & Friends, a combined team of students from Florida Memorial University, Spelman College, and Norfolk State University. For their app, AASharp, they were each awarded 75,000 AA Advantage miles. The Sky Bison from Howard University took third place with their app, Quickbook, and were rewarded with 50,000 AA Advantage miles. Additionally, Southern University’s “The Coders” were selected as Judge’s Choice.
The Hackathon also awarded Beats Pro and iPads to the teams with the best technical solution and best pitch respectively. And, to add to the excitement, gift cards were given to students who posted about their Hackathon experience on social media.
The BE Smart Hackathon was certainly an event to remember. It provided an opportunity for students to showcase their skills and network with potential employers. It’s no wonder why the roar of the Jackson State University Tigers was so loud and proud!
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