Hack@CEWIT History
Hack@CEWIT began in February 2017 following CEWIT Software Engineer Chris Lange's participation in a U Penn hackathon in 2016. Seven years ago, hackathons were not as widespread and popular as they are now - but even back then, ideas were flowing and enthusiasm to participate was high. Chris shared with his collegues at CEWIT information on all the great (and not so great) things that went on at the event, and CEWIT felt this was something they wanted to participate in; hence began Hack@CEWIT. The thought of combining it with Engineers Week in late February seemed like a natural fit, and the imagination and hard work of the staff, student groups and student volunteers along with the support of corporate sponsors and mentors has made Hack@CEWIT one of the most popular hackathons in the Northeast!
What is Hack@CEWIT?
The annual student hackathon run by the Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology (CEWIT) at Stony Brook University will once again be held in-person on March 3-5, 2023 at the CEWIT building in the R&D Park at Stony Brook University following two years of virtual hacks due to COVID.
More than 300 college students from across the U.S. will be taking part in a 43-hour hackathon. This year, the Hack’s theme is Hacking a Sustainable Future and will feature innovative projects in IoT, Healthcare, Energy & Sustainability, Defense Technology & Cybersecurity. The event will culminate in a science fair and award ceremony in which several prizes will be awarded, including Best in Show for both graduate and undergraduate students.
This event will be held in person at the CEWIT building with students eating, sleeping, and working straight through the two nights. Students work in teams of no more than four and can attend tech talks and deep dive workshops and participate in several different games and challenges. All students must be currently registered in a college/university as undergrad, grad, or PhD level. There will also be a Hardware Lab on site for students to borrow equipment or devices for their buildout. There will also be industry mentors available for assistance and hands-on instruction.
Hack@CEWIT is a Major League Hacking Event
Major League Hacking (MLH) is the official student hackathon league. Each year, MLH powers over 200 weekend-long invention competitions that inspire innovation, cultivate communities and teach computer science skills to more than 65,000 students around the world. MLH is an engaged and passionate maker community, consisting of the next generation of technology leaders and entrepreneurs.
Student Hacker Testimonials
"One of the most well-organized hackathons and keeps getting better every year!" Ian, Johnson and Wales University
"Hack@CEWIT was a great experience. We built a productivity app for kids called "Diego the Dog". Most of our team came into this hackathon with zero Flutter experience. Through a combination of YouTube tutorials and online examples, we increased our Flutter knowledge tenfold. Hack@CEWIT just might have started something really big for us!" Stony Brook University Student
"Hack@CEWIT is an amazing experience to learn & make use of new technology & make new friends along the way!" John, Stony Brook University
"My team and I came in at knowing almost nothing about building a chrome extension but we came out winning a prize for best education hack and having learned very much!" Farmingdale University Student
