Kavya Jain

UHack 2023

Reviving University of Miami's Hackathon After 5 Years

Event Management • Leadership • Stakeholder Relations • Budget Planning

The Challenge

Lead organizer for the University of Miami's first in-person hackathon since 2018. Though my official role was treasurer, I managed every aspect of the event from conception to execution.

Event Planning Budget Management Stakeholder Relations Team Leadership

Budget Management

Managed complete event budget and financial planning

Catering & Logistics

Organized all food, catering, and event logistics

Sponsor Relations

Worked closely with sponsors and sourced judges

Communications

Sent emails to 3000+ students and professors

Faculty Liaison

Primary liaison to faculty advisors

Website Design

Designed template website and approved materials

Event Highlights

UHack 2023 participants, organizers, and advisors group photo

Participants, organizers, and advisors celebrating the successful revival of UHack at the University of Miami

Students presenting Quake-Aid project to judges

Project Presentations

Students presented innovative solutions like "Quake-Aid" - a platform helping people connect during emergencies. Teams pitched their ideas and wireframes to industry judges.

UX Design workshop in progress

Educational Workshops

Organized four student-led workshops including this UX Design Process session, providing participants with practical skills and learning opportunities.

Impact & Results

30+

Participants

Students from multiple departments engaged in sustainability-focused projects

5

Years

Gap since the last in-person hackathon at University of Miami

4

Workshops

Student-led educational sessions covering UX, development, and more

Knowledge Transfer

Organizer's Guide

Created a comprehensive PDF guide documenting lessons learned and recommendations for future UHack organizers - everything I wish I had known before starting this adventure.

This documentation ensures the knowledge and experience gained from reviving UHack will benefit future organizers and help sustain the program.

Key Learnings

Leadership Skills

  • • Cross-functional team coordination and management
  • • Stakeholder communication across university departments
  • • Budget planning and financial responsibility
  • • Crisis management and problem-solving under pressure

Event Management

  • • Large-scale event planning and execution
  • • Vendor management and contract negotiation
  • • Marketing and outreach to diverse audiences
  • • Documentation and knowledge transfer processes

Project Impact

Successfully revived a dormant program, created lasting impact through comprehensive documentation, and demonstrated the ability to lead complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives from conception to completion.

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