Software student leads charge to revive breakout hackathon
Software engineering junior Jacob Ishak-Boushaki is co-chair for Hack Arizona, to be held March 22-23 at the university’s Albert B. Weaver Science-Engineering Library.
Jacob Ishak-Boushaki entered the University of Arizona with a driving ambition to resurrect Hack Arizona. The student-run effort launched in 2015 and became the Southwest’s largest hackathon, attracting as many as 875 competitors. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic brought the event to a halt.
Until now. Student organizers, with the backing of the Division of Undergraduate Education – as well as support from the College of Engineering, additional university units and local industry partners – hosted Hack Arizona March 22-23. They attracted 300 competitors and hope to keep building up to pre-pandemic participation levels in subsequent years.
Ishak-Boushaki became captivated by Hack Arizona when his sister, a U of A theater major, served on the student committee that planned the inaugural 2015 event.
Ishak-Boushaki led an initial effort, organized a much smaller version for the spring of 2024 with the sponsorship of the College of Engineering. Fifty students participated, with winners taking home certificates and bragging rights.
“I decided somebody should bring it back. Why shouldn’t it be me?” said the software engineering junior.