Hackathon

ɫ��Ƶ Students Win First Place in FinTech Track at University of Michigan–Dearborn Hackathon

lmadaus — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 19:05:42 +0000

ɫ��Ƶ Students Win First Place in FinTech Track at University of Michigan–Dearborn Hackathon

lmadaus Fri, 10/24/2025 - 15:05

Three ɫ��Ƶ students took first place in the FinTech track at Hack Dearborn 4, a 24-hour hackathon hosted on October 11th and 12th, 2025, at the University of Michigan–Dearborn.

Andrew Ricard, Ansh Suryavanshi, and Melvin Cloud earned the top honor in their track for developing the E-Ink Gift Card, a secure, battery-free, NFC-enabled card featuring an e-ink display that updates dynamically when tapped.

Unlike traditional cards, the E-Ink Gift Card displays no static card numbers. Instead, its identifiers are fully tokenized and encrypted. Each transaction generates a temporary cryptogram used only during authentication, ensuring card data cannot be copied or reused. The design also enables secure reloading and activation through an accompanying mobile app or point-of-sale system, providing transparent, auditable control for users and merchants alike.

Organized in partnership with Major League Hacking (MLH), Hack Dearborn 4 brought together students from across the region for more than 24 hours of coding, collaboration, and problem-solving. The event featured workshops led by Google engineers, networking opportunities, and challenges spanning a range of technical domains, including artificial intelligence and financial innovation.

For more information, visit https://www.hackdearborn.org/.

Computer Science

Cranbrook Wins ɫ��Ƶ’s First-Ever Bulldog Battles

rnorris — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 13:56:58 +0000

Cranbrook Wins ɫ��Ƶ’s First-Ever Bulldog Battles

rnorris Thu, 04/17/2025 - 09:56

174 students. Eleven teams. Six competitions. One trophy. Cranbrook’s computer science team came out on top — and showed why they’re ready to code their future.

Not everyone sees a coding competition as a proving ground. But the students who showed up for ɫ��Ƶ’s first-ever Bulldog Battles? They weren’t like everyone else.

Over the course of six-weekday competitions held on the ɫ��Ƶ campus, more than 170 students from 11 Michigan high schools went head-to-head in a series of team-based computer programming challenges. Powered by Ford Motor Company and ɫ��Ƶ’s Computer Science Department, the Bulldog Battles pushed students to collaborate under pressure, debug in real-time, and solve complex problems that mirrored the challenges of a modern tech career.

“It’s not about writing the perfect code the first time,” said Joni Applefield, co-president of Cranbrook’s Computer Science Club. “It’s about learning how to think differently — how to fail fast and try again.”

Applefield, a senior at Cranbrook, led her team to victory with a record-breaking score, helping the school earn top marks in both individual and team performance. Cranbrook students placed in the top three overall among all 174 competitors.

In his remarks at the trophy presentation, Chuck Gray ’87, Ford Motor Company Vice President of Vehicle Hardware Engineering, recalled how a similar experience inspired his own path.

“One day, you’re sitting in the audience. The next, you’re designing what’s next for the industry,” he said. “The recipe is simple: curiosity, capability, and a real-world education that starts before graduation. That’s what ɫ��Ƶ delivers.”

From Idea to Impact

The Bulldog Battles grew from the single-day hackathon that ɫ��Ƶ also held. But when ɫ��Ƶ’s enrollment and computer science teams imagined something bigger — six events, twelve schools, and a championship trophy — the idea gained momentum.

“We believed in the students,” said Chris Nelson, administrative specialist in ɫ��Ƶ’s Computer Science Department. “And we knew this kind of challenge could change the game.”

With financial support from Ford, ɫ��Ƶ purchased 50 new laptops, secured travel and supply resources, and brought high school teams from Saginaw, Macomb, Oxford, Holt, Lake Orion, and more to campus. General Determination — ɫ��Ƶ’s mascot — welcomed each team, and students received swag, lunch, and a whole day immersed in the campus culture and competition.

ɫ��Ƶ’s Model in Action

As teams rotated through problem-solving rounds, they found support in ɫ��Ƶ faculty, staff, and current students, many of whom are already earning patents, coding autonomous vehicles, and helping Co-op employers across the country innovate faster.

“We wanted high school students to see what’s possible here,” said Matt Fortescue, Director of Enrollment. “Our 50-50 academic and Co-op model is all about building real experience early, and these battles gave them a glimpse of that world.”

Big Wins, Bigger Lessons

In the final event, Cranbrook returned with a new lineup of younger teammates — sophomores stepping up after seniors passed the torch. They scored even higher than the original team and completed the only 50- and 60-point problems in the entire competition series.

“They’re already thinking like leaders,” Nelson said. “Not just about solving problems — but about passing on what they’ve learned.”

The trophy now lives on Cranbrook’s campus, a physical reminder of the resilience, collaboration, and competitive drive that define both the computer science students and ɫ��Ƶ.

Ready to take on your own challenge?
Start building your future with real work, real results, and real impact.
Learn more about ɫ��Ƶ’s Computer Science program.

Computer Science

ɫ��Ƶ Champions Innovation with ‘Cracking the Code’ Hackathon and Bulldog Battles, Inspiring Future Computer Science Leaders

rnorris — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 18:40:17 +0000

ɫ��Ƶ Champions Innovation with ‘Cracking the Code’ Hackathon and Bulldog Battles, Inspiring Future Computer Science Leaders

Computer Science

Hackathon

rnorris Fri, 11/01/2024 - 14:40

ɫ��Ƶ recently hosted its second annual "Cracking the Code" Hackathon, welcoming a dynamic group of more than two dozen high school juniors and seniors eager to dive into the world of computer science. Participants tackled real-world programming challenges, utilizing Python and Java, with the opportunity to win prizes for their top-tier solutions. The Hackathon underscores ɫ��Ƶ’s commitment to fostering innovation, creative problem-solving, and hands-on learning.

“We want to bring in students and show them the fun side of computer science and programming,” said Dr. Mike Farmer, head of ɫ��Ƶ’s Computer Science department. “It doesn’t matter where you start. It’s a great field to get into that helps them create a career with a lot of opportunities for advancement. We want to provide a platform for students to explore their coding skills and connect with ɫ��Ƶ.”

Building on this momentum, ɫ��Ƶ recently launched Bulldog Battles, a series of dynamic weekday competitions designed to immerse high school students in a collaborative, team-based coding environment. These battles pit teams from different schools against one another in thrilling head-to-head programming challenges.

Each week, two schools will face off, with up to 25 students per team participating in individual and team events. The week’s top teams will earn trophies, and the school with the highest overall points at the end of the season will take home the grand trophy. Ford Motor Company has generously supported Bulldog Battles, contributing 50 brand-new laptops and covering transportation costs, ensuring that financial barriers don’t limit participation.

“Our goal is to show students that computer science isn’t just about coding; it’s about creativity and problem-solving,” Dr. Farmer said. “We want to break the stereotypes and demonstrate that computer science is a field where imagination and innovation can truly flourish.”

The excitement surrounding the "Cracking the Code" Hackathon and Bulldog Battles highlights ɫ��Ƶ's dedication to cultivating the next generation of computer science leaders. These events go beyond simple competition; they provide high school students with a platform to explore the limitless potential of technology and innovation.

Computer Science

ɫ��Ƶ Student Takes Top Prize at Dearborn Hackathon

eoboyle — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 19:07:06 +0000

ɫ��Ƶ Student Takes Top Prize at Dearborn Hackathon

Computer Science

Hackathon

eoboyle Thu, 11/09/2023 - 14:07

Ansh Suryavanshi

Ansh Suryavanshi ’25 used the experience he gained at ɫ��Ƶ to win the Hack Dearborn: Disrupt Reality hackathon event Oct. 21.

“ɫ��Ƶ has always pushed me to participate in events like this and work on team projects,” the Computer Science student said. “We usually work in random teams for a class at the University, and the hackathon is the same with a very limited time frame. So, it adds up to the challenge of completing our project and giving our 100% to it.”

Nearly 200 college students participated in teams of four during the 24-hour event.

Suryavanishi’s team created “RoadEntertainment,” which won the Automotive Track Prize and ZF Problem Statement. “RoadEntertainment” is an in-car entertainment feature for autonomous vehicles that uses passengers’ ages to suggest and play an appropriate video for the length of the trip. Suryavanishi’s role was backend support for the machine learning model as well as age and hand gesture detection.

“Honestly, I didn’t expect to win because I was really nervous, and it was the first time I was doing something like this,” he said. “I was pretty confident in my idea but didn’t imagine winning the Track Prize.”

He chose to participate in this event because it was close to his Co-op, Hyundai MOBIS, where he works with the Autonomous Vehicle Advanced Engineering team to develop new features for autonomous cars.

The team’s biggest challenge during the event was working on such a tight deadline, Suryavanishi said.

“Some of our ideas would fail sometimes, so we had to brainstorm and come up with new solutions,” he said. “Overall, we had to race against time and get the project worked out.”

School of Foundational Studies

Computer Science

ɫ��Ƶ Hosts inaugural Hackathon

rnorris — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 17:03:02 +0000

ɫ��Ƶ Hosts inaugural Hackathon

Campus Events

Computer Science

Hackathon

rnorris Wed, 09/27/2023 - 13:03

A Hartland High School senior took first place in ɫ��Ƶ’s inaugural Hackathon on September 16, 2023.

Adriana Lippolis of Linden took home a Sony PlayStation 5 for winning the “Cracking the College Code” Hackathon.

During the event, high school juniors and seniors tested their skills and showcased their problem-solving abilities in a series of programming challenges of increasing difficulty. Each problem included advanced data structures. Students used Python or Java to code.

Clarkston High School junior Noah Gedraitis of Clarkston earned second place and took home a Nintendo Switch. Henry Ford II High School junior Isaac Kellog of Macomb and Winston Churchill High School senior Pradham Kuchipudi of Westland earned third and fourth place, respectively. They took home Razer BlackShark Gaming Headsets.

Participants also had the opportunity to tour campus and meet fellow competitors, ɫ��Ƶ students, alumni, faculty and the Esports Director.

Hackathon

ɫ����Ƶ Students Win First Place in FinTech Track at University of Michigan–Dearborn Hackathon

Cranbrook Wins ɫ����Ƶ’s First-Ever Bulldog Battles

ɫ����Ƶ Champions Innovation with ‘Cracking the Code’ Hackathon and Bulldog Battles, Inspiring Future Computer Science Leaders

ɫ����Ƶ Student Takes Top Prize at Dearborn Hackathon

ɫ����Ƶ Hosts inaugural Hackathon

ɫ��Ƶ Students Win First Place in FinTech Track at University of Michigan–Dearborn Hackathon

Cranbrook Wins ɫ��Ƶ’s First-Ever Bulldog Battles

ɫ��Ƶ Champions Innovation with ‘Cracking the Code’ Hackathon and Bulldog Battles, Inspiring Future Computer Science Leaders

ɫ��Ƶ Student Takes Top Prize at Dearborn Hackathon

ɫ��Ƶ Hosts inaugural Hackathon