WHACK Spring 2017, February 11-12 at Wellesley College

WHACK is a community that supports women in tech.

Spend a weekend with us and dozens of undergraduate students from throughout the New England area and build something amazing! At WHACK, we want you to think out of the box, experiment with new technologies, ask questions, learn something new, and have fun! Whether you’re a seasoned developer or designer, or just starting out as a beginner, WHACK has something to offer you.

Our theme this February is Hacking the Glass Ceiling, and it’s broad and open to interpretation! To our participants, we encourage projects that celebrate and advance women. And on our part, we’re doubling down on our core mission: empowering and supporting women in technology. We’ll host workshops on issues pertinent to women in this field and bring women leaders and mentors from industry to WHACK. We hope you’ll join us!

Stories

Brenna Manning

Olin College, '18

"WHACK was the first hackathon I ever attended, and I couldn't have asked for a better first experience. The mentors were supportive and encouraging. People were working on fun projects, and everyone I spoke to seemed so happy to be there. I met awesome people and had a great time learning and creating."

Sam Chin

Wellesley College, '17

"I think hackathons have been a major way that I have developed my rapid prototyping skills as well as my resume. I've definitely had recruiters ask about some hackathon projects. WHACK is an awesome starting point to try a hackathon, there are awesome mentorship and resources for you to experiment and hack."

Mathangi Ganesh

Wellesley College, '19

"I loved WHACK because I had the chance to work with students who had strengths in different aspects of programming. One of our teammates had experience with building databases, another teammate wanted to work on the front-end, and I enjoyed working with APIs. We were able to split up the work based on strengths, and we learned a lot from each other when we came together at the end to combine our different parts."

Join Us!

Hack

Registration is open until Feb. 8, 2017!

Volunteer

Wellesley students, we need YOUR help! Help us get hackers to where they need to be, make sure everyone is fed, and that logistics for all events are handled. Apply by Feb. 5, 2017.

Sponsor

Our sponsors make WHACK possible each year. Thank you!

Mentor

Mentors play a huge role at WHACK. We're looking for mentors who are knowledgeable, passionate, and eager to offer guidance to join us! Apply by Jan. 31, 2017.

Frequently Asked...

What is a hackathon?

It’s a grand gathering of people to make their ideas come to life. Think out of the box, try new technologies, ask questions, make mistakes, discover a new language, and have fun! We will be following Major League Hacking's Code of Conduct.

What if I have ZERO experience?

That’s absolutely fine! We encourage beginners to join us. Get psyched to learn a ton from our mentors and have a blast with your teammates!

Is this event only for women?

This event is geared towards women, but we welcome all. Keep in mind that we are looking to create a safe space. If you have any questions about this, please contact us!

How does mentorship at WHACK work?

We believe that good mentorship is essential. You will have access to wonderful mentors--industry professionals, alums, faculty, and experienced hackers--throughout the entire event.

Do I need to have a finished project by the end?

Your goal should be to have a finished or almost complete project by Sunday. However, WHACK is ultimately a learning experience, so don't sweat it too much if you can't finish.

When is the deadline to register?

Please register by Feburary 8, 2017! (This semester, we will not be doing a lottery. If you register on time, you'll get a spot at WHACK!)

Who can attend?

Any undergraduate student is welcome to register and attend!

Will travel costs be reimbursed?

Unfortunately, we currently cannot provide reimbursements for travel costs. However, all food and housing will be provided during WHACK.

What if I can only come for part of the weekend?

If you have a special circumstance, please stipulate it on your application form. WHACK is ultimately a resource for you to learn, connect with others, and meet mentors in industry, so you'll get more out of it if you can stay the whole event.

Do I have to hack with a team?

Nope, you're welcome to hack on your own! However, only teams with 2-5 people are eligible to win prizes.

Have other questions?

Send us an email at hack@wellesley.edu or tweet at us @wellesleyhack!