Annual Hackahton Prepares Students for Jobs in Information Technology
Over the past few years, technology and especially network security has taken center stage in the news cycle. From the infamous Sony hacking in 2014 to the Russian collusion controversy, concerns in privacy and data security are at an all-time high.
The Information Technology field is increasing emphasis on new jobs focusing on network and
information security, cloud computing, and big data collection and storage. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a growth of 13 percent through 2026, which translates into over half a million new jobs in the field.
To meet the high demand, and give students the upper hand, Broward College has hosted an annual Hackathon for the past four years. The objective is to teach students how to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment with teammates.
The Hackathon – What does it entail?
The Hackathon serves as a practice ground for students to experience the real-life work environment. Through the help of mentors actively working in the field, students can gain insight into the way the field works and what employers expect. Participants have to work in teams of at least four people to develop new software from start to finish in 24 hours or less. All team members are required to participate in the final presentation to the panel of judges.
The winners
This year, there was a record number of participants compared to previous events. There were 96 students from Broward College, Florida International University, and Dillard High School. The winners in each category are as follows:
- Best Overall: Woof (FIU)
- Code for a Cause: FaceDetect (BC)
- Most Innovative Idea: PTPC (Dillard High)
- Best Presentation: LOCOL (BC & Private HS)
- Crowd Favorite: Woof
The winner for Best Overall, Woof, is a mobile app that allows users looking for rescue dogs at locations near their homes.
Mentors, judges and sponsors
This year’s mentors represented prestigious companies including Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ultimate Software, Synechron, Synistosa Technologies, Cendyn, and Cre8tive Dev. Software. Several mentors were also Broward College alumni, currently employed in the field.
The panel of judges was comprised of Denise Mendez from Magic Leap, Tamecka McKay from Broward County Public Schools and alumnus, Brent Lewis from Microsoft also an alumnus, and Tony Casciotta, CIO & VP of Information Technology for Broward College.
Without the help of sponsors and partners such as Broward College Student Life, Ultimate Software, Cengage Unlimited, CSPi Technology Solutions, Magic Leap, Code Explorers, CrowdForge, Laspadas, and John the Baker, the annual BC Hackathon could not have been possible.
Congratulations to all the winners and many thanks to all participants!
Interested in a career in Information Technology? Learn more here.
Finals Are Coming: Five Tips to Ace Your Tests
You have been great at keeping up with your school work and grades, and now your most stressful challenge is here – finals week. Broward College provides resources such as its Academic Success Centers (ASC) to help you ace your tests. For the next few weeks, the ASC on each campus will offer extended hours through December 9.
However, if you prefer to study on your own, here are some helpful tips to help you excel.
Don’t miss your review session
It’s customary for professors to offer at least one review session before finals. It’s crucial that you attend this class because it’s your last chance to get answers to the questions you may have. The suggestion is that you at least review the semester’s material before this session, so you have the information and questions fresh in your mind.
Focus on yourself
You may not believe it, but there is no more critical time to take care of yourself than now. Pulling all-nighters and filling yourself with caffeine is the worst approach to take when studying. If you want to understand and learn the material effectively, you must eat correctly, make sure you get good sleep, and exercise. Your brain won’t focus and work to the best of its ability if you deny it a healthy atmosphere.
Prioritize your classes
If you’re a full-time student, you probably have four or five classes, and you and one or two subjects that are especially challenging for you. In that case, you must prioritize and dedicate more time to the topics in those classes that you find difficult. Make sure to allow for more time for those subjects and focus on them first.
Organization is key
It’s never too late to be organized. Even if you haven’t practiced this throughout the semester, there’s still time for you to structure your class material. You can classify your notes according to the probability of that topic being on the test. After you arrange them, it will make it easier for you to take in a semester’s worth of information in just a few study sessions.
Breaks are necessary
Taking breaks is okay. There’s only so much information your brain can process. Giving it a rest will help you reboot. Taking 10 to 15 minutes break every hour or so, will not only give your mind the appropriate rest but also keep you from becoming overwhelmed.
Remember, you've got this!
For study tips throughout the semester follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @BrowardCollege for our weekly #TuesdayTips.
Learn more about the resources available at Broward College by visiting our Student Resources page.
Happy Thanksgiving! – The Evolution of the Holiday Over the Years
Thanksgiving is this Thursday. We’ve come a long way since the first official national Thanksgiving, proclaimed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. The tradition has evolved over the years, but one thing has remained - families and friends come together to celebrate.
The origins
Despite becoming a national federal holiday in 1863, Thanksgiving celebrations have taken place since at least 1621. The Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians are credited with the first Thanksgiving celebration, for their autumn harvest feast. This three-day feast was meant to give thanks for the first successful corn harvest by the Pilgrims in America, and religion played a big role in the holiday.
The tradition
While the religious focus of the celebrations has decreased, Thanksgiving is still heavily oriented towards family gatherings. The main activity is a generous dinner which features turkey as the main dish, accompanied by mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pies.
Some other traditional Thanksgiving activities are football games, volunteering, and parades; the Macy’s New York Thanksgiving parade being the most famous.
One of the best traditions many people use to show they are thankful is giving back to the community. Some outreach activities involve special dinners for the less fortunate. Learn about volunteering opportunities in Broward County this Thanksgiving here.
Broward College has a strong tradition of service even beyond Thanksgiving, learn about volunteering opportunities through BC Cares.