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LionHacks is a 12-hour invention marathon organized by GDG on Campus SELU × SLU STEM Center, bringing together 50+ students from across the region to build, innovate, and create. Whether you're a seasoned developer or picking up code for the first time, there's a place for you in our jungle.
Why LionHacks?
- 🍕 Free food & energy drinks all day — breakfast, grab-and-go lunch, and a pizza party dinner to keep you fueled
- 🏆 $500+ in prizes across multiple tracks
- 🤝 A welcoming, high-energy community of builders and beginners alike
- 🌟 Proudly backed by MLH, Google, North Oaks, SLU STEM CENTER and the SELU Computer Science Department
Requirements
Devpost Submission
Teams must submit their project on Devpost before the 5:30 PM hard deadline on April 25, 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted. Jordan will walk everyone through the upload process during the mid-day announcement at 11:45 AM.
📹 Need help submitting? A step-by-step walkthrough video has been posted in the Discord — check it out before submission time!
Your submission must include:
- 📝 Project name & description — What did you build, and what problem does it solve?
- 🎯 Track selection — Choose one: Education, FinTech, or Healthcare
- 💻 GitHub repository link — Must be public and contain your full codebase
- 🎥 Demo video (2–3 minutes) — A screen recording or live walkthrough of your working project
- 📊 Slides or a brief write-up (optional but encouraged)
Team Rules
- Teams of 1–3 members
- All code must be written during the event — no pre-built projects
- Open to all students; no prior experience required
- Come solo and find teammates at the event, or register with your crew
Prize Tracks & How Winning Works
LionHacks uses a stackable prize system — meaning one project can win multiple awards. Here's how it breaks down:
- Every project competes for the Overall Hackathon Winner award
- Projects also compete in their chosen track: Education, FinTech, or Healthcare
- Any project that incorporates the Gemini API is additionally eligible for the Best Use of Gemini sub-track
That means a single project could walk away with up to three prizes — the overall winner title, a track win, and Best Use of Gemini.
Prizes
NorthOaks Health Track Winner
Technological Gadget for all team members
Education Track Winner
Technological Gadget for all the team members
FinTech Track Winner
Technological Gadget for all the team members
Best Use of Gemini Track Winner
Google Swag Kit for all the team members
Overall Hackathon Winner
Technological Gadget for all the three members
Devpost Achievements
Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:
Judges
Ranjan Poudel
Senior Principal Software Engineer - CarMax
John W Burris
Chief Information Officer - Southeastern Louisiana University
Kevin Fussell
IT Director - NorthOaks Health Systems
Lisa Kuhn
Assistant Dean - College of Science & Technology (SLU)
Eraj Khatiwada
Software Developer - Directmail.io
Dr. Kazim Sekeroglu
Professor - Southeastern Louisiana University
Judging Criteria
-
Innovation & Originality
Is the concept novel? Does it offer a creative solution to a real-world problem or a unique twist on existing tech? -
Technical Execution
Quality of the technical build, code complexity, and overall functionality of the live demo. -
Presentation & Communication
How effectively did the team articulate their vision, explain the project, and handle Q&A? -
Impact & Viability
Does the project solve a significant problem? Could it meaningfully affect its target audience? -
Future & Feasibility
How practical is the solution? Is there a clear roadmap or go-to-market strategy?
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