Holberton Tulsa and Urban Coders Guild to Host Student Hackathon

Tulsa, Okla. | Jan. 9, 2023 – Holberton Tulsa, a software engineering school, and Urban Coders Guild, a nonprofit organization dedicated to working with children and parents in underrepresented communities to develop tech talent, will host a 12-hour student Hackathon on Monday, Feb. 20.

In celebration of Black History Month, the event is called Black Futures Hackathon, and is designed to inspire diversity in technology. The free event will be held from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Holberton Tulsa campus (15 N. Cheyenne) on President’s Day since schools are closed.  It is open to all high school students and members of the Urban Coders Guild on a first-come, first-served basis. Students can register at hackathon.holbertontulsa.com by Feb. 13.

“We’re excited to host our first student hackathon with the Urban Coders Guild to help inspire Tulsa’s next generation of computer scientists,” said Libby Ediger, CEO of Holberton Tulsa.  “Consistent with our learn by doing model, we are bringing together a diverse group of students to collaborate with Urban Coders Guild instructors and Holberton students to work on a coding project.”

No prior coding experience is required, and the project is designed to provide an introduction to students interested in technology and meet individuals with similar interests.  Awards will be presented to first, second and third place teams, and families are invited to watch the final presentations and awards.

“Hackathons play an important role in the tech community because they bring people together to work collaboratively on a challenge. Most hackathons are convened for adults, but our focus is always on the youth. Our annual Black History Month hackathon is particularly special for us because we have an opportunity to honor Black history while also developing future Black tech creators and innovators,” said Mikeal Vaughn, founder and executive director of Urban Coders Guild.

About Holberton Tulsa

Founded in Silicon Valley, and brought to Tulsa by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, Holberton Tulsa opened in 2019 and the first cohort began in 2020. The innovative software engineering school located in downtown Tulsa helps remove barriers to entry in the technology field. The 20-month curriculum provides a foundation in software programming, and specialized instruction in a preferred field of study, including augmented reality / virtual reality, machine learning, linux programming and advanced algorithms and full-stack web development. Holberton Tulsa is dedicated to meeting the educational needs of Tulsa’s rapidly expanding technological community by preparing students academically and professionally to meet the constantly changing employment requirements needed to be successful in a career in software development and engineering. Learn more and apply today at holbertontulsa.com

About Urban Coders Guild

Urban Coders Guild exists to provide computer science education access and opportunities to youth from historically underserved, underrepresented and otherwise under-resourced communities. Urban Coders Guild strives to educate parents, especially those of Black and Brown children and those of young girls, about the opportunities STEM and computer science education can offer their children. And Urban Coders Guild recognizes the need to provide multiple pathways for students – academic, professional, and entrepreneurial. All students will be exposed to coding technologies, but in developing a viable tech ecosystem, we recognize the need to showcase other roles within the tech sphere: IT project managers and business analysts, product designers, product developers, tech salespeople, as well future tech entrepreneurs.