Code for Your Community
Join us for an exciting hackathon designed exclusively for students (grades 8-12). Whether you're a coding newbie or a programming prodigy, this is your chance to build something amazing, learn new skills, and compete for incredible prizes!
📅 When
September 5-6, 2025
Friday 5PM - Saturday 9PM
📍 Where
Story
828 East Market
Louisville, KY 40206
👥 Who
Students grades 8-12
in the Kentuckiana region
Teams of 2-6 members
What You Will Do
Create an app or website that tackles a community challenge in these tracks:
Environmental & Infrastructure
Sustainability, climate action, green technology
Housing Accessibility
Affordability, accessibility, community development
Public Safety
Community safety, emergency response, crime prevention
Downtown Revitalization
Economic development, business growth, urban renewal
Education
Learning accessibility, educational technology, student resources
Cash Awards & Prizes
Recognition by Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman and Congressman Morgan McGarvey
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
🏌️ Five Iron Golf Experience
Free 30-minute golf session at Five Iron Golf for the most innovative solution!
⚾ Louisville Bats Game
Free tickets for you and a friend to enjoy a Louisville Bats baseball game!
🎯 GSE Excellence Awards
Additional exciting awards and recognition sponsored by GSE for outstanding achievements!
Event Schedule
Friday Night – Hacking Session #1 (9:00–10:00 pm)
Goal: Get organized + build a foundation
Pick Your Problem
Choose one challenge area (Education, Environment, Housing, Public Safety, Downtown). Agree on ONE problem to solve.
Brainstorm & Scope
Generate 3–4 solution ideas → vote on the best one. Write down: Who's the user? What's their problem? What's our simple solution? Keep it SMALL → focus on a minimum viable product (MVP).
Team Roles & Tools
Assign roles: Captain, Coder(s), Designer, Researcher, Presenter. Set up GitHub repo + decide tech stack (Replit, Firebase, Figma, Canva, etc.).
Wireframe / Outline
Sketch the app/website on paper or Figma. Decide which 2–3 pages or features are needed for the demo.
Set Milestones
By Saturday lunch → working prototype. By Saturday afternoon → polished + ready for demo.
Saturday Morning – Hacking Session #2 (9:00 am–12:00 pm)
Goal: Build the MVP (something that works, even if rough)
Basic Setup
Coders: set up repo + starter code. Designers: create color scheme/logo in Canva or Figma. Researchers: gather data, APIs, or facts to support solution.
Build Core Features
Website: Home page + 1 working feature (e.g., form, chatbot, map, database). App: Main screen + navigation working.
Checkpoint
Team should be able to click through a rough demo. If stuck, simplify — drop features, focus on making something run.
Saturday Afternoon – Hacking Session #3 (1:00–4:30 pm)
Goal: Polish + add presentation value
Refine Features
Make the MVP stable (fix bugs, smooth out flow). Add one "wow" element (AI tool, fun design, unique feature).
Design Polish
Apply consistent fonts/colors. Add images, icons, or styling to look professional.
Demo Prep
Build a short pitch deck (3–4 slides in Google Slides/Canva): Problem → Solution → Demo → Impact. Decide demo flow: Who talks? Who clicks? Practice once as a team.
Saturday Final Hour (4:30–5:00 pm)
Goal: Submission + last-minute practice
Final Preparation
Submit code/demo link to organizers. Run through the 6 min pitch + 4 min Q&A one more time. Assign backup person in case laptop/projector fails.
Saturday Evening (5:00–7:30 pm)
Judging, deliberation, and celebration
Judging & Demos
Each team: 5-8 min pitch + 2-3 min Q&A with judges.
Dinner Break
Quick meal while judges deliberate.
Awards Ceremony
Announce winners (cash prizes, trophies, swag). Music, photos, networking.
Our Venue
Take a look at Story, our amazing venue located at 828 East Market in Louisville
About Us
Annika Chadha
Ajay Sutaria
Maylin Kidwell
Helen Bai
Dan Ross-Li
Requirements
- Must be in grades 8-12 (no college students)
- Teams must have 2-6 members (no solo participants)
- All projects must focus on environment, housing, public safety, downtown revitalization, or education
- Can build apps, websites, or any digital solution
- All skill levels welcome - from beginners to experts
- Must register through our Discord/Slack community
Ready to Join?
Ready to make a difference in your community? Join fellow innovators, develop meaningful solutions, and compete for amazing prizes in Kentucky's most exciting high school hackathon!
