For Immediate Release; Coverage invited

Contact:         Maryjane Briant
                        News and Media Relations Director
                        Galloway, N.J. 08205
                        Maryjane.Briant@stockton.edu
                        (609) 652-4593
                        stockton.edu/media

Galloway, N.J. - Stockton University is presenting its first annual StockHack, a 24-hour, innovation, design and technology competition for high school students and currently enrolled undergraduate college students, from noon on Saturday, Feb. 18- noon on Sunday, Feb. 19.

StockHack is a unique, free event which in which students will learn how computer science can be applied in their educations by experimenting with interface design and software engineering challenges.  The overall themes for the event are innovation and design, with a grand prize going to the most innovative original project.

“StockHack is the university’s first hack-a-thon, a marathon of creative computer programming in which high school and college students will work together to create an original project within 24 hours,” said Lynne Kesselman, Stockton’s first lady, and a nationally recognized technology educator. “This event offers a unique experience for those interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics, or STEAM, to learn, create and collaborate, and win prizes, too.”

In her former career as a computer technology teacher at Egg Harbor Township High School, Kesselman founded the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Southern New Jersey chapter, of which she is currently president. The group is a co-sponsor of StockHack, along with the Stockton Computer Society and Information Technology Services.

On the national level, hackathons have proliferated in the past 10 years, and some of have become a vehicle for companies and financiers to rapidly develop new software, and find new talent.

“When individuals hear the word hackathon, they may immediately associate it with computer crime, but ‘hack’ in this context means exploratory programming to promote innovative ideas to address interesting problems,”  said Robert Heinrich, Chief Information Officer and Information Systems adjunct faculty. 

The event will commence on Saturday afternoon with guest speakers, a scavenger hunt, significant time for collaborative and creative work, and the competition will end on Sunday morning with the presentation of the team projects.                                                                                                                        
“At Stockton, we look forward to encouraging students to explore the intersection of art and science,” said Demetrios Roubos, assistant director of Information & Security, Computer Science Information Systems (CSIS) adjunct faculty, and one of the event’s organizers.                                                   

“Technology is so pervasive and broad, there are careers in technology within every vertical market. What we want to do is encourage the next generation to think about technology in a way that helps them realize their potential - getting them to experiment with emerging tools/techniques and thinking outside of the box,” Roubos added.

Food will be made available at no charge to participants, including dinner on Saturday, breakfast on Sunday, and some snacks along the way. Anyone with specific food allergies is encouraged to bring some of his or her own “known-to-be-safe” snacks.

The lower D-Wing Computer Labs, C-Wing Atrium and Alton Auditorium will be used throughout the event. There will be a quiet area for participants who need a short breather, but sleeping is not encouraged, as this event is designed to be similar to a dance-a-thon, but for science and technology.

The competition will be judged by Roubos and others, including members of the CSTA and CSIS faculty, with high-tech prizes to be awarded.

Registration for minors includes forms to be filled out by the legal parent or guardian. Supervision of minors while on campus will be provided by the university in accordance with standards for the Protection of Minors.

For more information and to register, visit stockton.edu/stockhack.