Eastern Michigan University students organize university's first student-led hackathon

YPSILANTI, Mich., Nov. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Eastern Michigan University's first student-led flagship hackathon, Hack The Nest, will bring high school and college students to campus Nov. 14-15 for a free 24-hour innovation competition. Organized by more than 20 EMU students, the event has already attracted participants from more than 18 states.

EMU computer science major and Hack The Nest founder Chanuth Jayatissa launched the event after helping establish the university's Google Developer Group. Many student organizers are experienced competitors who have collectively won 13 hackathons in the past five months.

"This is EMU's first student-led flagship hackathon, so there is no playbook we can simply follow," said Jayatissa. "This feels like a passion project built from everything our community has taught me. But it is not mine alone. It is more than 20 students across five teams, and still growing, with many taking on work they've never done before."

Organizers emphasize that no coding experience is required. Mentors will be available throughout the event to help participants develop ideas and learn new skills.

According to organizers, one of the event's primary goals is to make innovation and technology more accessible to students who may not have considered participating in a hackathon before.

"We have surpassed 125,000 views on Instagram, and the message we receive most often is from students asking whether they're allowed to attend if they can't code," said Salma Ibrahim, computer science major, co-lead and marketing lead for Hack The Nest. "The answer is yes and, honestly, those are the students this event was designed for."

Organizers also say hackathons can create pathways to internships, jobs and professional connections.

"Chanuth and I both went to Google I/O this year with travel and accommodations fully covered, and we got there because of what we built growing the Google Developer Group at Eastern," said Karthikeya Thota, cybersecurity major and sponsorship and Capture the Flag lead for Hack The Nest. "That is the kind of door this opens. A weekend like Hack The Nest is where it begins, and all it asks of a student is a problem they care about."

Keeping the event free for participants has remained a top priority for organizers.

"Keeping this completely free was the one thing we would not compromise on," said Melvin Karupati, co-lead and finance lead for Hack The Nest. "That is why we are working with partners to cover every meal, the space and the swag across the whole weekend, because the moment there is a ticket price, you lose exactly the students you most want in the room."

Hack The Nest is free and open to high school and college students interested in innovation, technology and problem-solving, regardless of experience level. The event will take place in the Student Center and the GameAbove College of Engineering and Technology and will feature workshops, mentoring sessions, networking opportunities and team-based project development throughout the 24-hour competition.

SOURCE Eastern Michigan University