On Monday, January 27, the PDS HackBac team embarked on a mission; learn, grow, create, and win. Accompanied by Ms. Chambers and Ms. Edwards, they traveled to St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Potomac, Maryland where the competition took place this year. PDS students competed in teams composed of a mix of different schools to propose solutions for critical issues that the world is facing right now. These issues ranged from poverty and food insecurity to environmental sustainability.
Competitors used their knowledge of technology, coding, business planning, and collaboration to design innovative solutions to significant global challenges
“It really allowed and forced me to step outside my comfort zone,” said junior Ankith Namireddy. Given the opportunity, he would likely attend again, finding it to be a very educational experience. Mentors were also present throughout the competition to guide students through their projects and to answer questions that came up along the way. These mentors were professionals in fields like AI, robotics, design, and sustainability. They provided valued feedback to all the teams.
This was PDS’s second time competing in HackBac, and the team did exceptionally well, with PDS students placing 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. This experience allowed them to actually bring their solutions to life in the real world. There was exceptional talent and skill demonstrated throughout the competition, and the team’s success is a tribute to the collaborative environment that PDS fosters for its students. “The fun part was getting to know a bunch of new people, most of whom were out of state, and just in general, engaging with people and doing something creative with them,” remarked junior Ariyah Lamin. Though the time constraint was a challenge, Lamin reflected that it was an incredibly formative experience and the products created by each team were phenomenal.
HackBac is designed to encourage collaboration, innovative thinking, and varying insight from a variety of different perspectives. The PDS team went into the competition with a positive mindset and a desire to grow, and they have undoubtedly learned and acquired an abundance of experience that will serve them very well in the future.
