Applications are invited for the BlossomHack 2025. Check the eligibility below and register asap!
About BlossomHack 2025
The largest hackathon hosted at Ohio University by OU Cybersecurity Club, OUGDA, NSBE, SOftware Dev Club, ACM, IEEE, and CEO. This event is open to students of all backgrounds. Our mission is to provide students with technical and professional opportunities outside of the confines of the classroom.
Hackathon Rules
- Teams may not have more than 4 members unless participating in the Entrepreneurship Track, which will allow a 5th member. A group of 5 may apply for other tracks, but the execution criteria for judging will be harsher.
- Those who wish to participate in the Cybersecurity Track (CTF challenge) must also register on the CTF live site.
- In order to be eligible for the Beginner track, all members of the group must have less than one year of experience with computer programming, cybersecurity, electrical engineering, etc.
- In order to be eligible for the Intermediate track, all members of the group must be 2nd year and below and cannot have taken and passed courses CS3610 (Intro to Data Structures) and/or EE3343 (Electronics I).
- You cannot work on your project before the event begins.
- Do not steal another team’s source code (or CTF flags), hack the event site, share CTF flags, or otherwise intentionally do anything that would actively hinder another participant.
- Please comply with all instructions from the BlossomHack organizers.
Requirements
All submissions must include a video and a link to a GitHub repository of all the code written for your project. If you are participating in the Prettiest Lanyard competition, only a photograph is necessary.
- All videos must be 3 minutes or less.
You will have to present your projects to the judges. So don’t forget to mention where you are in the building. Present your project in the Atrium to avoid Judges missing you.
When you’re creating your video and submission, don’t forget to:
- Demo the project you’ve been working on for the past 24 hours
- Be proud of what you’ve created!
- Tell us what you’ve learned while hacking
- Check out the judging criteria (projects are judged based on learning, execution, and originality)
- Tell us if you’re going for an opt-in or sponsor prize category
Devpost submissions close at 11:30 AM on Sunday, April 7th.
Prizes
- Best Overall Hack:
- $500 in Amazon Gift Cards to the best team overall plus the LEGO Icons Bonsai Tree Set
- Hardware Track:
- $500 in Amazon gift cards
- Game Development Track:
- $500 in Amazon gift cards
- Software Track:
- $500 in Amazon gift cards
- Social Impact:
- $500 in Amazon gift cards
- Entrepreneurship Track:
- $500 in Amazon gift cards
- Additional participant allowed to create an in-detail business prospectus report
- Beginner/Low Tech Track:
- $500 in Amazon Gift Cards
- Participants must have less than one year of experience with computer programming or electrical engineering
- Intermediate Track:
- $500 in Amazon Gift Cards
- Group members must be 2nd year or below, and cannot have taken or passed CS3610 (Intro to Data Structures) and/or EE3343 (Electronics I)
- Cybersecurity (CTF):
- 1st place: $300 in Amazon Gift Cards
- 2nd place: $150 in Amazon Gift Cards
- 3rd place: $150 in Amazon Gift Cards
- Prettiest Lanyard:
- $75.00 in Amazon gift cards
- Decided by a public vote on Devpost
- Digital Engineering Track – Sponsored by the United States Air Force:
- $500
- The project must utilize simulation, modeling, digital twin, AR, or VR technology.
Evaluation Criteria
- Learning: How familiar is your group with the software you are using for your project?
- Originality: How unique is your project (did you follow a guide online, or did you come up with something new?)
- Execution: How closely did you achieve what you set out to do with your project?
- Complexity: How technically difficult is your project?
- Relevance: How closely does it relate to the track?
