September 26th-27th, 2020
Code
Collaborate
Discover
Launchpad is a hackathon for local high school students hosted at RPI by coding&&community. Students will have the opportunity to work together to brainstorm, design, and code a project from scratch. We're excited to see your creativity unleashed!
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, Launchpad is postponed to September 26th - 27th
All participants below the age of 18 must also bring a signed parental release form.
Flier•Parental Release Form
About
When: March 21st - 22nd
Where: Heffner Alumni House, 1301 Peoples Ave, Troy, NY
Who: Grades 8-12
Launchpad is open to coders of all skill levels. Mentors from RPI will be around to help brainstorm, give advice, and teach mini tech-talks about topics that might be useful to your project. At the end of the day, all teams are encouraged to present their work, with a chance to win some prizes!
Schedule
Remember, you don't have to come both days.
March 21st
| Time | Event |
| 9:00 am | Welcome & Breakfast |
| 9:20 am | Team-making and brainstorming |
| 10:00 am | Beginner website development workshop |
| 10:00 am | Beginner app development workshop |
| 11:00 am | API workshop |
| 12:00 pm | Lunch |
| 1:00 pm | Data science workshop |
| 2:00 pm | Arduino workshop |
| 2:00 pm | Git workshop |
| 3:00 pm | Break activity |
| 3:30 pm | Advanced website development workshop |
| 5:00 pm | Closing |
March 22nd
| Time | Event |
| 9:00 am | Startup and breakfast |
| 9:15 am | Continue hacking |
| 9:15 am | Continue hacking |
| 11:00 am | Pitching workshop |
| 12:00 pm | Lunch |
| 12:00 pm | Lunch |
| 2:30 pm | Guest speaker |
| 3:30 pm | Judging |
| 4:30 pm | Closing & awards |
All workshops are optional. Balance them with work time!
Speaker
Mark Little
Founder of RiseHigh
After a long career as a GE executive that included directing the GE Global Research Center (GRC), Mark Little founded Rise High with the goal of exposing students to a variety of STEM concepts in the real world.
Prizes/Categories
Best Website
Show off your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript skills, and make a dazzling website!
Best Hardware Hack
There's more to tech than just writing code on a screen. Use an Arduino or Raspberry PI to build the best hardware hack
Best Game
Whether its a platformer or a top down game, design and implement the best game possible.
Most Creative
Design and create the most innovative, thoughtful and unique solution to a real world problem.
Bootstrap Award
This award is given to a team that shows perseverence and learns new skills while tackling a difficult challenge.
Workshops
Workshops to be announced soon!
FAQ
How much coding do I need to know?
Launchpad is open to students of all skill levels. For less experienced students, mentors from RPI will be available to guide you along. We will also be providing starter code for some simple projects in web development and game design.
How will teams work? How will we plan a project?
We will form teams at the beginning of the day. Don't worry if you don't know anyone else, we'll make sure you make your way into a great team! We will have brainstorming sessions at the beginning of the day to help your team design a project.
Do I need to attend for the entire weekend?
You can attend the event for the entire weekend or either day. To be considered for prizes you must be present Sunday afternoon for judging. Also, for safety reasons we ask that students do not leave the Alumni House during the day unsupervised by a parent.
Do I need to bring a computer?
If you own your own laptop, we encourage you to use your own. If you don't own a laptop, we can provide one for you to use during the day.
Do I need to have any software installed?
The software you will need depends on the project your team decides to build. We recommend installing Python as well as a basic code editor such as Sublime or Atom. Also feel free to check out StartHacking.org.
Does Launchpad cost money?
Not at all! We will take care of all meals, goodies and prizes. However, we won't be able to provide transportation to the event.
Where can I park?
There is a parking lot right outside of the Alumni House.
What should I bring?
You should bring a laptop, charger, and a signed parent release form. We will take care of food, and any other materials needed.
What is there to eat?
We will provide breakfast and lunch both days. Please let us know of any allergy accomodations or dietary restrictions when you register.
Are parents and teachers welcome?
Of course! Your parents will love to see your projects! And, Saturday morning we will be offering a professional development forum for current and prospective CS teachers.