Stony Brook University hosted the second annual CEWIT High School Hackathon on April 10, drawing more than 90 high school students from across Long Island. The event took place at the Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology (CEWIT) and was coordinated by CEWIT and the Office for Research and Innovation's Workforce Development initiative.
This year's hackathon involved 23 teams using Java, Python, and AI tools for various challenges. Teams of four received support from Stony Brook students, culminating in project presentations to a panel of judges. "We’re very happy to report that we’ve grown from six schools to 13," said Workforce Development Manager Derek O’Connor. Students from different school districts, including Baldwin and Jericho, showcased their skills, with Jericho High School securing the top prize with a facial recognition software project.
Mineola High School teacher Kuri DiFede, who brought two teams, emphasized the event's value. "The kids are incredible," she remarked. "They’re excited to be here. We’ve got students from grades nine through twelve, and this gives them a sense of what’s possible — from college computer science programs to careers in robotics."
Kevin Gardner, Stony Brook's Vice President for Research, underscored the importance of innovation, stating, "As a major research university, we have two missions: to educate and to discover new knowledge."
The hackathon also provided mentorship from Stony Brook students like Chen Zhu and Patrick Farrell, both of whom recognized the enthusiasm and potential of the participants. "They have way more energy than college students," Zhu noted, while Farrell relished the chance to give back, having started his own coding journey in college: "I never had this kind of opportunity in high school."
Besides the coding experience, attendees enjoyed visiting the Reality Deck, a high-resolution immersive display. Prizes and refreshments were provided through donations from on-campus and industry partners. Each student left with a Stony Brook backpack containing a t-shirt and gloves, and winners received additional prizes.