Franklin University Announces FranklinHack – Two-Day Virtual Programming Competition

Contact:

Sherry Mercurio
Executive Director, Office of Community Relations
(614) 947-6581
Email: sherry.mercurio@franklin.edu

Ohio's #1 Nonprofit University for Online Degrees, Franklin University, is proud to announce its inaugural FranklinHack event. Leveraging the expertise of Franklin University's computer technology programs and Center for Public Safety & Cybersecurity Education, the virtual, two-day programming competition provides Ohio's community college students with the opportunity to develop their 21st-century skills.

The launch of a competition focused specifically on Ohio's community college students reflects Franklin University's long-standing relationship and support for community college students. The FranklinHack unites Franklin's expertise in programming and related fields with a population of students looking to continue their associate-level degree to a bachelor's degree.

Participating community college students will have the opportunity to improve their logic and analytical skills while opening the door for creative solutions. Through their involvement, participants develop skills that better prepare them for a rewarding career in a high-demand field of programming.

The online environment pragmatically aligns the simulated environment to a real-world scenario while also maintaining safety protocols. Participating community college students will compete with other students to build web-based applications that address a theme that will be unveiled theme during the March 26, 2021 kick-off event.

In addition to the unveiling of the 2021 theme, the kick-off event will provide guidelines for building a web application that addresses issues associated with the FranklinHack theme. Each team will present a link to their web app two-days later on Sunday, March 28, at 9 a.m. (EST). Along with the link, teams will provide a five to seven-minute video describing the process and inspiration derived from their app, along with a project questionnaire.

Judges will be grading on the following criteria:

• Innovation & Creativity
• Functionality & UX
• Performance and Technical Merit
• Community Impact and Theme Relevancy
• Presentation

Winners and awards for the top three teams will be announced later that evening at 7 p.m. (EST). Team members from all of the top three teams will win scholarships to attend Franklin University, with first-place team winners receiving full-tuition for two years and second and third place team winners being awarded half-tuition for two years. *Prizes are redeemable to any student who chooses to pursue a four-year degree at Franklin University after completing their associate's degree. 

Teams are already forming! If you are a community college student at one of Ohio's 25 community colleges, be sure to start establishing your reputation as a standout program designer and register today at https://franklinhack.devpost.com/

For more information about the 2021 FranklinHack, email: studenthack@franklin.edu

Learn more about Franklin's online Computer Science bachelor's degree program and the software development skills that will prepare you for a robust career in an ever-changing environment: https://bit.ly/3kJCgPu.

About Franklin University

Accredited, nonprofit, and dedicated to educating adults since 1902, Franklin provides onsite course options at our Main Campus in downtown Columbus, Ohio, and is an innovator in providing personalized online education. The University offers applied in-demand undergraduate, masters, and doctorate programs that enable adult learners to achieve their educational and professional goals. Through agreements with partner institutions, the University also offers international academic programs, including its top-ranked MBA.

Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds specialized accreditations for specific academic programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education. The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have designated Franklin University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE).