Dates

06/11/2026

Eligibility

Berea College Students

Project and Submission Requirements

GIthub Repo

Demo Video

Prizes (for the team)

1st - $300 

2nd - $200 

3rd - $100

Judging Criteria

  • Working prototype
  • Clear UX
  • Technical explanation ready
  • Original contribution identifies
  • Real-world impact stated
  • Scalability path described

Detailed Rubric

By registering into this hackathon, you agree to follow the code of conduct:

Berea College Hackathon: Code of Conduct  1. Our Core Principle

The Berea College Hackathon is a space for innovation, collaboration, and "Learning, Labor, and Liberty." We are committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, or technical skill level.

2. Expected Behavior

As a participant, you agree to:

  • Embody Kinship: Treat all participants, mentors, and staff with respect. Harassment in any form—including offensive comments, intimidation, or unwelcome physical contact—will not be tolerated.

  • Value Labor: Respect the physical space. This includes the equipment in the lab, the furniture, and the effort put in by student organizers and facilities staff. Clean up your station before leaving.

  • Foster Integrity: You are expected to be honest about your work. Collaboration is encouraged, but claiming others' work as your own is prohibited.

3. Project Originality & "Fresh Code" Policy

To ensure a fair competition for all Bereans, we enforce a strict "start from scratch" policy:

  • The "Noon-to-Noon" Rule: All development—including coding, designing, and hardware assembly—must take place during the official 24-hour period.

  • No Recycled Projects: You may not submit a project that was started before the hackathon. This includes previous class assignments, past personal projects, or work from other competitions.

  • Third-Party Assets: Use of open-source libraries, APIs, and frameworks is permitted, but the core functionality and "value-add" must be original work created during the event.

  • Audit Rights: Organizers reserve the right to review GitHub commit histories to verify that the work was performed within the event timeline.

4. Inclusive Innovation

In the spirit of Berea’s mission to serve those with great promise but limited economic resources, we encourage teams to build "with" rather than "for." Ensure your projects are accessible and consider the diverse needs of our campus and the Appalachian region.

5. Health and Safety

  • Alcohol & Drugs: This is a dry event. The use of alcohol or illegal substances is strictly prohibited on campus property and will result in immediate disqualification and removal.

  • Public Safety: Follow all instructions from Berea College Public Safety. Keep your Berea ID on you at all times for building access.

  • Rest: We prioritize your health. If you feel unwell or exhausted, please use the designated "Quiet Zones" or return to your residence for rest.

6. Competition & Judging

  • Team Size: Teams must consist of 1–4 participants.

  • Submission: Projects must be submitted to Devpost by the deadline (tomorrow at 10 am) to be eligible for prizes.

  • Decisions: All judging decisions are final and based on the rubric provided during the opening ceremony.

7. Consequences of Misconduct

If a participant engages in harassing, dishonest, or unsafe behavior, the organizers reserve the right to take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender, disqualification, expulsion from the event, and reporting the incident to the Office of Student Life.

8. Media Release

By participating, you grant Berea College and the Berea GDG permission to use photos or videos taken during the event for promotional purposes (social media, website, and campus news).