Awofisayo’s love for computer science led to a growing interest in hackathons. She applied to various organizational positions for hackathons during her sophomore year but she was greeted by multiple rejections.

It was not long before she was forced to reexamine the hackathon and computer science community. The current senior realized women were highly underrepresented within the field. In response, she and her friend Erika Ramirez found a solution through TecHacks.

“The field is moving rapidly and the trajectory is still really unknown. I felt like as a Black girl and Black student in computer science, I could make the change that it needs right now to make sure that it’s accessible and it’s inclusive as well as efficient and impactful for people across the world of all backgrounds,” Awofisayo said.

The nonprofit and hackathon organization provides female and non-binary students professional mentorship, community, and opportunities in computer science.

TecHacks’ biggest initiative is the summer hackathon, which has helped over 950 high school and college students across 60 different countries. Students hoping to find clarity in their professional pursuits have a space to explore as TecHacks offers various interdisciplinary competitions including health, social justice, and finance.

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In addition, TecHacks offers a three-month fellowship program for students. Participants create a project of their choice backed by mentorship and a $400 grant to support hardware, educational opportunities, coding language, and more.

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