Miami, Oct. 28, 2024 – Miami Dade College (MDC)’s Miami Animation and Gaming International Complex (MAGIC) will host a 24-hour Halloween Hackathon starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1, through Saturday, Nov. 2, at MDC Wolfson Campus in the heart of downtown Miami. Working media is welcome.
The 2024 MAGIC Halloween Hackathon is open to middle school, high school and college students from all South Florida institutions to create a game, animation or immersive simulation within 24 hours as a way to foster creativity and community in Miami. Food, drinks and fun activities will be provided with amazing prizes awarded to the best projects.
“Engaging in hackathons is crucial for students as it encourages practical application of their skills, promotes teamwork and cultivates an entrepreneurial mindset,” said Mauricio Ferrazza, MAGIC’s chairperson. “By working in fast-paced, competitive environments, students learn to adapt to challenges, refine their problem-solving abilities and innovate beyond classroom theory. Hackathons also provide a unique platform for students to build connections that can lead to internships, jobs or collaborative projects in the future.”
The Halloween Hackathon is organized by members of the M.A.G.I.C. Club, a student organization that seeks to supplement the MAGIC curriculum by gathering current and prospective students to learn from sources outside the classroom. Projects will be judged in the categories of Virtual and Augmented Reality, 2D/3D Game Development and Animation.
Guest judges include Jacob Patrick, Imagineer at Walt Disney Imagineers; Denise Mendez, Principal Engineer at Microsoft Mixed Reality and Alex Roque, Engineer at Microsoft. Winners will receive prizes from Steam Deck, Meta Quest 3 and Nintendo Switch. Sponsors include Stem Legacy Grant and the Miami DDA (Miami Downtown Development Authority).
WHAT: MAGIC to Host 24-hour Halloween Hackathon
WHEN: Friday, Nov 1, at 6 p.m. through Saturday, Nov. 2, at 6 p.m.
Register at: https://magic.mdc.edu/event/2024-magic-halloween-hackathon/
WHERE: MDC Wolfson Campus, Chapman Center (Building 3, second floor)
245 NE 4th St.
For more information about the Halloween Hackathon or MAGIC, please contact Brenna Verner at 305-237-3560, bverner@mdc.edu.