Salinas Valley Dream Academy (SVDA) introduces its first annual Harvest Hacks Hackathon to the community of Salinas. The SVDA inspires, engages, and empowers students to strive for higher education while becoming active participants and servant leaders in their community. In partnership with Salinas Union High School District, Google, Hispanic Heritage Foundation, Hartnell College, and the Future Citizens Foundation’s Center for Learning, among many others - this event is an opportunity for the Salinas youth, middle and high school students, to dive into technology and experience the wide array of opportunities that this diverse field offers. SVDA is bringing Silicon Valley to the Salinas Valley for the first time ever!!

• Participants check-in

• Receive event t-shirt and handouts

• Light breakfast available

OPENING CEREMONY 

• Welcome remarks

  • Marco Pizarro-Silva (Salinas Valley Dream Academy)

  • Joe Gunter (Mayor, City of Salinas)

  • Alberto Avalos (Code As A Second Language)

  • Jimmy Panetta (United States Congressman)

  • Diana Marquez (People Technologist, Google)

• Hackathon and tech career videos

• Highlight prizes

• Review day’s schedule

• Group Picture (with banner)

• 2-4 workshops going on simultaneously (30 minutes each) 

• Track 1 students must attend 4 workshops

• Lunch

• Students will be introduced to coding via information presented to them and through hands on experiences online

• Product design presentations

• Dinner

• Announce winners and present awards

• Participants check-in

• Receive event t-shirt and handouts

• Light breakfast available

OPENING CEREMONY

• Welcome remarks

  • Marco Pizarro-Silva (Salinas Valley Dream Academy)

  • Joe Gunter (Mayor, City of Salinas)

  • Alberto Avalos (Code As A Second Language)

  • Jimmy Panetta (United States Congressman)

  • Diana Marquez (People Technologist, Google)

• Hackathon and tech career videos

• Highlight prizes

• Review day’s schedule

• Group Picture (with banner)

• 2-4 workshops going on simultaneously (30 minutes each) 

• Track 2 students must attend at least 2 workshops

• Students form groups

• Project development

• Mentors help with ideation of student projects

• Lunch

• Creation of apps, video games, and websites in teams

• Mentors help with student projects 

• Product design presentations

• Dinner

• Announce winners and present awards

• Originality / Ideation
  Is the hack more than just another generic social/mobile/local app? Does it do something entirely novel, or at least take a fresh approach to an old problem?
• Presentation
  
• Functionality
  Is the hack a functional, working project, rather than just an idea?