HAVI Hackathon
Are you a strategic thinker with a knack for solving problems? Are you hoping to gain skills in these game-changing areas before graduation? You won’t want to miss our three-day HAVI Hackathon, which will be held March 26-28, with final presentations April 8.
All NIU undergraduate and graduate students from all majors are invited to register for the hackathon competition.
Sponsored by the College of Business, this event promises to bring NIU students together to solve real-world challenges at Barsema Hall March 26. The top three winning teams will have the opportunity to present at global freight management company HAVI. And all participants will be invited for an exclusive networking session and field trip experience at the company’s Chicago office April 8.
“This is not a classroom exercise. This is not a case study we’ll forget about next week. This is a real competition, with a real company, with real stakes — the kind of experience that separates candidates in a crowded job market and gives you a story worth telling in your interviews from here on out,” said OM&IS Associate Professor Biagio Palese, who organized the hackathon. “HAVI is a global supply chain powerhouse, and the people judging this competition are the same people who hire.”
The HAVI Hackathon gives students the opportunity to apply what they’ve been learning and channel it into real-world good — not for a grade, but for experience and impact. Past participants didn’t just win prizes; they built connections and were able to tout their involvement in their résumés and in interviews.
“This is experiential learning at its finest. This hackathon is the ultimate bridge between the classroom and a career. It’s an unparalleled opportunity to challenge yourself with complex, real-world supply chain problems and showcase your talent directly to an incredible company like HAVI,” Palese said. “Just look at last year’s winner: Their performance in the competition caught the attention of HAVI’s leadership, which opened the door to network, interview and ultimately earn a full-time role. This isn’t just an event. It’s a catalyst for your future.”
Spots are filling up fast and space is limited, so register today. If the competition reaches capacity before you register, students can still join the waiting list. Cancellations happen, and we want to make sure every motivated student has a chance to participate.
A special thank you goes to Rachel Schmit and Ying Wang from the College of Business, as well as the team at HAVI, for working to make this event possible for the fourth year in a row.