Youth Hackathon for 9/11 Day

Students in grades 8–12 who are 13 or older on 26 September, in teams of 3 to 5. If you don’t have a team, you can register individually and we’ll match you into one.

No! The hackathon is designed specifically for non-coders and coders alike. Teams use Base44 low-code AI tools, drag-and-drop interfaces, and prompt engineering. Every team needs writers, designers, project leaders, and presenters!

The day is built around teams of 3 to 5, and registering as a complete team is always the surest way in. If you don’t have a team, sign up through the Need Teammates? form and we’ll do our best to place you with one. We can’t guarantee a spot, or a particular date and campus, but we’ll try — and we’ll let you know either way before the event.

Teams composed strictly of 8th and 9th graders compete in the Junior Division. Teams with 10th, 11th, and 12th graders compete in the Senior Division. Mixed grade teams (e.g., 9th and 10th) automatically compete in the Senior Division.

Your challenge category is the one your team picked at registration. Within it, the problem statement isn’t handed to you — your team works it out on the day with your pod mentor, talking through the problem and the possible approaches together.

Coming in with ideas is a real advantage, so it’s well worth discussing them as a team beforehand.

8:00 AM on Saturday 26 September — the morning of the event itself. All three stages need to be complete by then — registered, seat reserved and confirmed — which means every team member’s consent form is in.

If your team is registered but a consent form is still outstanding, email hackathon@hc4a.org as soon as you can and we’ll help you close it out before the deadline.

Registration runs in three stages:

Registered — your form is in. Seat reserved — your place is held while we wait on consent. Confirmed — every team member’s consent is complete.

Confirmation happens automatically once the last consent arrives; there’s nothing more you need to do.

No. Students register directly as independent youth teams. There is zero administrative tracking or paperwork required from school administration.

Module 2 is the required consent, waiver and event policies form. Every participant under 18 needs their own parent or legal guardian to complete it; participants aged 18 or over sign for themselves. Without consent a student can’t take part.

Please complete it by 24 September, and no later than 8:00 AM on Saturday 26 September, when registration closes.

After the Team Captain completes Module 1, our system sends an automated email directly to each parent/guardian to sign the mandatory AmeriCorps media release and liability waiver prior to event day. For students under 18, that same email also covers photography. No reply is needed unless you’d prefer your child not to appear in photos or video — in that case, reply to opt out, or email hackathon@hc4a.org at any time up to the day of the event. Opting out of photography doesn’t affect participation in any way.

Yes — any parent or legal guardian of that student can complete it. One adult cannot sign on behalf of another family’s child.

Check your spam or junk folder first. The most common cause is a typo in the address given at registration, so email hackathon@hc4a.org and we’ll check what we have and resend.

School district addresses sometimes block outside mail, so a personal address is more reliable.

Teams should bring at least one laptop or Chromebook with charger. If your team does not have a laptop, you can request an on-site loaner laptop directly on the registration form! Please arrive with devices fully charged — you’ll only need them for about an hour of build time, and we’ll have power banks on site if anyone runs low.

Teams build with Base44, the low-code AI platform we partner with. Accounts are created for you on the day, so there’s nothing to set up or install beforehand.

Yes — hotspots will be available at the event for participants to connect to.

Nothing else needed — drinks and all build materials are provided. There’s no dress code; wear whatever’s comfortable.

PFC Robert P. Hernandez Middle School, 1901 Sunrise Rd, Round Rock, TX 78664, on Saturday 26 September, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM Central. One day, one venue, in person.

Come in through door 6, on the side corridor of the school — not the main entrance — and head to the cafeteria, where check-in is.

At Hernandez, park in the school lot — there’s plenty of space, and no permit is needed.

Drop-off and pickup are both by the side corridor entrance, door 6. There’s no gate code or security sign-in — just come to the door.

Doors open at 8:30 AM. Check-in runs 8:30–9:00 and the Remembrance Ceremony begins at 9:00, so please aim to arrive by 8:30 to be checked in timely and seated.

Volunteers arrive at 8:00 AM, half an hour before doors open, for a briefing and to get the check-in desks ready.

Bring your confirmation email — on a phone is fine.

You’ll still be welcomed in — come to door 6 on the side corridor and we’ll get your team to their pod.

No. Your team’s Adult Contact doesn’t need to attend, but should be reachable by phone during the day — we use them for schedule changes, anything urgent, and pickup. They aren’t a chaperone and don’t count towards your team of 3 to 5. That said, we’d love them to stay for the day if they can — and if they’d like to get involved, they can sign up through the volunteer form.

A light breakfast is served at check-in, with a boxed lunch and drinks through the day.

We aren’t able to guarantee halal, vegan or gluten-free options, so if your student has specific dietary needs or allergies, please send them with their own food — you’re very welcome to.

Yes — parents are welcome to stay, and there’s seating for you. If you’d like to help out while you’re there, you can sign up through the volunteer form.

Yes. Family are welcome at the afternoon Veteran Laptop Handoff and at the awards at 2:30 PM.

Near the end of the day, students pause competition to help pair with local veteran families, guiding them through their new refurbished laptop kit configurations. It is the emotional and community centerpiece of the day.

Yes — the venue and its parking are wheelchair accessible.

Let us know when you arrive if your student may need a quiet space, and we’ll do our best to arrange one.

Yes, with a parent or guardian’s permission. A volunteer will call to confirm with you before any student is released early.