PantherHacks 2026

Chapman University's second annual 48-hour hackathon! Check out our website at pantherhacks.dev. Follow us on Instagram @pantherhacks.dev.

Event Schedule

  • Friday, April 3rd

  • 📅 Event Check-In & Team Creation: 3pm - 4:30pm

  • 📅 Opening Ceremony: 4:30pm - 4:40pm

  • 🎤 Keynote - Sharief Taraman: 4:40pm - 4:55pm

  • 🍴 Dinner: 6pm

  • 🍪 Midnight Snack: 10pm

  • Saturday, April 4th

  • 🍴 Breakfast: 10am

  • 🎤 Guest Speaker - Tom Piechota: 10:30am - 11am

  • 🎤 Guest Speaker - Jon Weinberger: 12pm - 12:30pm

  • 🍴 Lunch: 1pm

  • 🎤 Guest Speaker - Adam Kalawi: 3pm - 3:30pm

  • 🍴 Dinner: 6pm

  • Sunday, April 5th

    • 🍴 Breakfast: 10am

    • 🍴 Lunch: 1pm

    • 🍪 Afternoon Snack: 3pm

    • 💻 Hacking Ends: 5pm

    • 📅 Project Judging: 5:15pm - 7:15pm

    • 🏆 Awards Ceremony: 7:30pm - 8pm

 

Requirements

What to Build

Build a software project (website, app, game, etc.) that relates to one of our four development tracks.

What to Submit

  • Project description
    • What your project does
    • Technologies used
    • Team member contributions
    • Challenges you encountered
    • What you learned
    • Future goals
  • Link to repository containing your project's source code
  • At least one screenshot of your project
  • A video demonstrating the functionality of your project (screen recording)
    • Roughly 2-3 minutes long
    • A voiceover explaining how to use the project is also recommended
    • Make sure the link to the video is accessible to the public (unlisted/public YouTube video)

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

5 non-cash prizes
Cybersecurity Track Winner
1 winner

Raspberry Pi 5 Starter Kit

Entertainment Track Winner
1 winner

Nothing Ear (a) Earbuds

Healthcare Track Winner
1 winner

Levoit Smart Air Purifier

Sustainability Track Winner
1 winner

Kasa Smart Plugs & Smart Bulbs

Hacker's Choice Award
1 winner

Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Jon Humphreys

Jon Humphreys

Tom DuPont

Tom DuPont

Doug Havard

Elia Eiroa Lledo

Tim Frenzel

Judging Criteria

  • Technology
    How technically impressive was the hack? Was the technical problem the team tackled difficult? Did it use a particularly clever technique or did it use many different components? Did any of the technology involved surprise you?
  • Design
    Did the team put thought into the user experience? How well designed is the interface?
  • Completion
    Does the hack work? Did the team achieve everything they wanted?
  • Learning
    Did the team stretch themselves? Did they try to learn something new? What kind of projects have they worked on before? Exploration and experimentation should be rewarded.

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

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