SFBU and Irvington High School bring an exciting hackathon to Fremont

By Jefferson Geiger

San Francisco Bay University was thrilled to sponsor and participate in Irvington High School’s hackathon, Viking Hacks, on Saturday, Feb. 3. The competition had students from across the Bay Area building and coding various programs in 14 hours.

Participants had two different themes to choose from: community improvement or the future of entertainment. If a student chose community improvement, that means they made apps that could enhance local services, improve public health, support education, or promote community engagement.  Meanwhile, entertainment projects could range from creating games, virtual or augmented reality applications, or digital art and music platforms.

The event was free thanks to sponsors such as SFBU, providing funds to cover the cost of food, technology and more.

“SFBU invests in the future of technology by cultivating a community of problem solvers and trailblazers,” said Thawi Iwagoshi, dean of the School of Engineering. “This sponsorship opportunity aligns well with our mission to provide diverse learners with inclusive, innovative, and inspirational education.”

SFBU Vice President of Business Incubation and Acceleration Syed Ijaz and Iwagoshi were judges at the event, while Professor Ahmed Banafa gave a presentation about the future of artificial intelligence.

“It was amazing to meet the brilliant students and observe the teams developing their projects,” Iwagoshi said. “We look forward to continuing to collaborate in activities that fuel creativity, foster teamwork, and inspire a passion for innovation among young minds.”

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