Hack The Student Life

AWS Hacks 2024

@ University of Toronto
Date: November 29
Location: AWS Office, 18 York St. 7th floor
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About us

Hack The Student Life is a one-day hackathon event, collaboratively hosted by the IEEE University of Toronto Student Branch and AWS Toronto, with sponsorship from Softchoice. This dynamic and fast-paced event will offer University of Toronto students the chance to engage in a hackathon aimed at addressing real-life challenges that UofT faculties and departments faced through the use of cloud-based solutions.

Days



Schedule

Morning

8AM

Sign-in & Breakfast

9:15AM

Opening Ceremony

9:30AM

Hacking Begins

12PM

Lunch

Afternoon

4PM

Hacking Ends & Judging

5PM

Networking CrashCourse

5:15PM

Mocktail Networking Session

5:45PM

Awards and Closing




FAQ

  • When and where will this happen?

    • Location: 18 York Street., Toronto, ON, M5J 2T8
    • Date: Friday, Nov.29th
    • Time: 8:00 AM to 6:00PM

    We kindly remind potential participants to verify their academic schedules to prevent any conflicts with school assessments on the day of the hackathon. It is important to ensure your availability to participate without the need to request adjustments to your term work commitments for this event.
  • What is special about this hackathon?

    The program provides students with exposure to industry practices and insights into Amazon's product planning strategies. Participants will initially adopt Amazon's "working backwards" methodology, emphasizing a customer-first approach to project development. This entails considering the presentation of their project to potential customers, such as formulating a succinct public relations message or an elevator pitch, and subsequently "working backwards" to realize their project.
  • How big can my team be?

    We are only accepting teams of 4 people. Teams will also be accepted as a group during the application process.
  • What are the problems we are trying to solve?

    Participating in "Hack The Student Life" offers a unique opportunity to address real-life challenges faced by various University of Toronto departments, including UofT Central Tech, the Faculty of Engineering, Computer Science, UofT Outreach, and International Experience and more. By engaging in this initiative, you'll work on solutions to these issues, present your ideas directly to faculty members, and have the chance to showcase your project to the relevant department. This experience allows you to make a tangible impact on campus by developing your project into a Proof of Concept using cutting-edge AWS technologies, under the guidance of AWS's leading Solution Architects.
  • What is the Mocktail Networking hour?

    We are offering participants an amazing opportunity to network with all the industry professionals from AWS and Softchoice, as well as the faculty members we invited from UofT. Participants are encouraged to showcase their innovative projects while cultivating their professional network. Furthermore, this event presents a valuable chance for attendees to enhance their communication and networking skills, providing a platform for personal and professional growth.
  • Who will be judging this hackathon?

    The judging panel for the hackathon comprises distinguished professionals from both academic and corporate sectors. As a highlight, we've invited UofT’s Chief Information Officer and former CIO of Arizona State University, Donna Kidwell, to serve as an education lead judge, witnessing the projects students propose to address real-life challenges faced by UofT departments. Additionally, AWS’s Senior Solutions Architect, Rahul Pisal, will lead a team of AWS judges in evaluating the technical complexity of the projects. These esteemed judges bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the evaluation process, ensuring a thorough assessment of participants' innovative solutions.
  • What is the prize of this hackathon?

    The victorious team from among the 25 competing groups will have the distinguished opportunity to collaborate on a Proof of Concept (PoC) with the University of Toronto's Information Technology Services (ITS) and the department of participants’ choice utilizing their proposed solution.
  • Who can apply? When is the deadline to apply?

    We’re welcoming any student who is currently a student at the University of Toronto! Applications open on November 13th, 2024 and close at 11:59 PM EST on November 19th. Acceptances will be internally decided on a rolling basis, so apply early to maximize your chances of getting accepted!





Sponsors

If you would like to sponsor us, feel free to reach out: hello@hackstudentlife.ca