about this event
Southwest MN Hacks is Marshall's student hackathon. A beginner-friendly, 24-hour event where students come together to turn ideas into real projects.
Join us on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at the Upper Conference Center, Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU), Marshall, MN.
Students from high schools, community colleges, and universities will work in small teams (up to 4 people) to build technology solutions to real-world problems. By the end of the event, teams demo what they built, whether that's a website, mobile app, automation tool, data project, or AI prototype.
No experience necessary. This event is designed for first-time hackers just as much as experienced developers.
The Challenge: Teams will tackle a real-world problem drawn from the kinds of challenges local and regional companies face. The challenge will be announced at the opening ceremony.
What's Included (FREE): Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks throughout the day. T-shirts and event swag. Mentorship and technical support from SMSU Computer Science faculty. Workshops and starter resources. Plaques and medals for the top 5 teams.
Who Can Participate: Ages 14+ (high school, community college, and university students). All skill levels welcome, from complete beginners to experienced developers. Teams of 1 to 4 people (solo participants will be matched with a team).
How to Register: Visit southwestmnhacks.org to register. Registration is free.
when
Check-in and breakfast
Check-in and breakfast
◍ Upper Conference Center, SMSUOpening ceremony and challenge reveal
Opening ceremony and challenge reveal
◍ Upper Conference Center, SMSUHacking begins
Hacking begins at 10:00 AM
◍ Upper Conference Center, SMSULunch
Lunch
◍ Upper Conference Center, SMSUDinner
Dinner
◍ Upper Conference Center, SMSUSubmissions due on Devpost
Submissions due on Devpost before 8:00 AM CT
◍ Upper Conference Center, SMSUProject demos and judging
Project demos and judging
◍ Upper Conference Center, SMSUAwards ceremony
Awards ceremony
◍ Upper Conference Center, SMSUEvent ends
Event ends
◍ Upper Conference Center, SMSUtickets
| tickets | price | Fee | Status | description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registration | Free | Free | Available | Registration is free. Visit southwestmnhacks.org to register. |
prizes
| # | PRIZE | price |
|---|---|---|
| Top 5 teams | Plaques and medals | Plaques and medals for the top 5 teams |