Registration is now open for the Eighth Annual H2O Hackathon, a community-supported event that taps into the technological, multimedia, and problem-solving skills of local students to help find solutions to the state's water issues. Teams compete for thousands of dollars in cash prizes, including the CalWater Golden Spigot grand prize. A panel of water experts and community leaders will judge contestant entries. The competition receives support from business, regional water districts, and educational institutions.
The H2O Hackathon is open to high school and college students competing in two separate divisions in a daylong competition on May 3, 2025, at the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE). Individuals and teams may register now at h2ohackathon.org. Students in both divisions may compete in either the app-building contest or the multimedia competition.
Water is a precious resource, especially in California, and water conservation is an important step in managing the state's water supply. This year's Hack the Tap theme calls on students to help water users conserve.
Coders in the app-building contest will use the Code.org App Lab or any other coding platform to solve the challenge outlined on the day of the event. In the multimedia challenge, students will develop a strategy to market the winning app or raise awareness to the challenge presented using a combination of digital media, such as videos, podcasts, graphic design, and social media, to create an engaging messaging campaign.
Students will not learn the exact challenge until the morning of the Hackathon and have five hours to complete their projects to meet the challenge.
Competitors have an opportunity to build new skills while applying what they have learned in class to real-world issues facing their communities. No coding experience is necessary to participate in the app competition. The H2O Hackathon website offers a toolkit that shows how to use the coding platform and includes other information for teachers and students competing in both the app-building and multimedia categories.
Competitors may sign up as a team or as individuals. Individuals who sign up will be assigned to a team. High school teams and individuals must be from San Joaquin County. In the college division, individuals and teams must reside in San Joaquin County or attend San Joaquin Delta College, University of the Pacific, or CodeStack Academy.
The H2O Hackathon has received financial support over the years from a broad range of partners. The event is organized by the SJCOE’s CodeStack department in partnership with Restore the Delta, A.G. Spanos Companies, iHub San Joaquin, the San Joaquin Partnership, Café Coop, San Joaquin Delta College, and Stockton Unified School District. Information about sponsors can be found on the h2ohackathon.org website.
The competition is at 8 a.m. on May 3, at the SJCOE Wentworth Education Center, 2707 Transworld Drive, Stockton. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony following the competition. The ceremony will be open to the public and members of the media.