Kennesaw State students use technology to connect young adults with mentors
KENNESAW, Ga.
(Mar 31, 2022) — Students at Kennesaw State University not long ago applied their computing abilities to assistance
match young grown ups without the need of households to volunteers who want to mentor them. The exertion
was aspect of the 2022 Hackathon for Social Good.
The Higher education of Computing and Computer software Engineering (CCSE) hosts two Hackathons a yr in which corporations create a true-environment, technological innovation
problem for students to remedy. The aim of the spring party is to use technologies
for social company and is open to pupils outdoors of CCSE.
“The Hackathon for Social Very good permits college students to hone their competencies and use their
expertise to make a variance outside the classroom for people in need to have,” Dawn Tatum,
director of CCSE’s partnerships and engagements, claimed. 
In the current Hackathon, HPCC Programs from LexisNexis Risk Methods, an open up-source
technological know-how platform for large knowledge insights, sponsored the party and partnered with
the nonprofit Connections Houses to produce an partaking obstacle for students. Information
gathered by Connections Residences reveals that each and every calendar year there are all-around 85,000 young
grown ups about the state without having a mentoring spouse and children or selected guardian. Numerous
of these younger males and women of all ages are homeless or in unsafe circumstances since they
have nowhere to switch.
Ahead of the weeklong function began, learners only realized its theme: “Using Technological know-how to
Produce Family members.” When they arrived for check-in, students have been instructed that Connections
Homes works by using a manual procedure to match younger grown ups, ages 18-24, who have aged out of
foster treatment, with a mentoring relatives. The course of action is time-consuming and vulnerable to
faults. College students had been questioned to computerize and increase the method working with things like
proximity, widespread pursuits, and faith to match the youthful grown ups to mentoring households.
“Having this form of matching know-how will make sure we’re offering our clients the
finest opportunity to be matched with the best relatives,” explained Davida Allen, relationship manager
with Connections Properties. “Human relationship is so important to prosper in existence. We want
to connect these youthful older people with mentoring people who will be there to celebrate
birthdays, holiday seasons and other important lifetime times.”
Spencer Starks, sophomore computer science college student, reported his very first Hackathon party was a problem, but 1 that has taught
him new techniques and allowed him to collaborate with his teammates.
“The Hackathon for Social Very good has authorized me to get out of my ease and comfort zone as I work
with new people today on a special obstacle,” Starks claimed. “I hope this will be a launchpad
for me to grow to be extra engaged in the engineering group and to community with much more
students and professionals.”
In addition to the Hackathon for Social Great challenge, learners experienced the chance
to network in the course of the 7 days with representatives from Assurant, State Farm and
Legitimate Areas Corporation.
“Companies who are selecting know the product-of-the-crop college students are the kinds who participate
in activities like these,” Tatum mentioned. “Hackathon serves as an unbelievable networking chance
for our pupils in CCSE and past.”
Half of the proceeds raised by the Hackathon for Social Superior will be donated to KSU’s
Campus Recognition, Resource and Empowerment (Treatment) Expert services, which delivers college students with accessibility to food, temporary housing and other supportive
providers.
Right after a week of functioning on methods to this obstacle, college students presented their work
to a team of judges. The next teams ended up regarded for their work:
1st – Staff BJW, Brian Bessemer, Darren Jones and Eric Weese
2nd – The CS Knights, Keyshawn Billups and Trevor Fouce
3rd – Group HPCC 8, Malik Naik Mohammed, Zameer Shaik and Gayathri Vellanki
– Abbey O’Brien Barrows
Photos provided
Related Tales
A chief in innovative training and learning, Kennesaw State University presents undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels to its almost 43,000 students. With 11 faculties on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw Condition is a member of the University Process of Georgia. The university’s vibrant campus lifestyle, assorted populace, solid world ties and entrepreneurial spirit attract learners from all over the nation and the globe. Kennesaw Condition is a Carnegie-designated doctoral investigation establishment (R2), positioning it among the an elite group of only 6 % of U.S. schools and universities with an R1 or R2 standing. For more facts, go to kennesaw.edu.
