What’s it like being at HackIllinois?

  • K.V. | Junior, Computer Science
  • K.V. | Junior, Computer Science
"HackAstra was honestly the most energized I've felt at any hackathon. Our team had never worked together before but the vibe at Siebel just made it easy to click. We ended up building something we were actually proud of in 36 hours, which I didn't think was possible going in."- K.V. | Junior, Computer Science
  • R.V. | Sophomore, Computer Engineering
  • R.V. | Sophomore, Computer Engineering
"I came in not really knowing what track to go for, and ended up doing the Cloudflare track basically on a whim. Super glad I did. The mentors were actually available and helpful, not just standing around. Walked away with new skills and a project worth putting on my resume."- R.V. | Sophomore, Computer Engineering
  • S.V. | Senior, CS + Statistics
  • S.V. | Senior, CS + Statistics
"Did the HackVoyagers path this year and the Shark Tank showcase was a different level. Presenting to actual company reps and having to defend your technical decisions on the spot is something you can't replicate in class. Even though we didn't take the grand prize, it was the most valuable 36 hours of my undergrad."- S.V. | Senior, CS + Statistics
  • P.S. | Junior, Electrical & Computer Engineering
  • P.S. | Junior, Electrical & Computer Engineering
"The John Deere hardware track was the perfect excuse to finally combine software and hardware in a real project. Getting to work with actual components and compete for the Best Hardware Hack was a different experience from your typical app-building hackathon. HackAstra didn't disappoint."- P.S. | Junior, Electrical & Computer Engineering
  • S.L. | Freshman, Computer Science
  • S.L. | Freshman, Computer Science
"I was nervous going in as a first-year with barely any project experience. HackIllinois made it feel welcoming though. I teamed up with people I met at the team formation event and we built something functional by Sunday morning. Can't wait to come back next year with more experience."- S.L. | Freshman, Computer Science
  • Hela Kasibhotla, Marketing 2024-25
  • Hela Kasibhotla, Marketing 2024-25
“My experience at HackIllinois was incredible; whether it was just as a team member or co-lead, I was always surrounded by passionate people who wanted to make something memorable. Every step of the way was an adventure, and seeing it all come together and how much fun people have is such a rewarding feeling!”- Hela Kasibhotla, Marketing 2024-25
  • Alex Yang, Systems Team Member 2024-25
  • Alex Yang, Systems Team Member 2024-25
"The people at hack are all amazing, and I'm incredibly grateful that I got to be part of the team for two years. Working on the systems team developing APIs taught me so much technically, and I received great mentorship during my time there. Beyond the technical skills, I grew socially—I'll never forget the Wednesday hack meetings, which always began with a fun social activity before diving into work. It was amazing to see everyone's hard work culminate in creating a memorable hackathon experience for hundreds of attendees.”- Alex Yang, Systems Team Member 2024-25