📌About the Event

305 HackShells Edition September 2026 is a student-focused hackathon organized by Swift Club at Florida International University (FIU) and Google Developer Group at FIU, with support from communities including Code Crunch Worldwide, ColorStack at FIU, CAHSI at FIU, Raspberry Pi Code Crunch, Hack University Worldwide, and Upsilon Phi Epsilon. The event gives participants an opportunity to turn ideas into working prototypes while exploring AI and emerging technologies through challenges such as Build with Gemma, the MLH × Snowflake Challenge, and a Kaggle challenge. It combines an in-person hackathon at FIU with a month-long virtual participation option for learners worldwide.

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ℹ️ Event Details

• Mode of Conduct: Hybrid format with both in-person and virtual participation.
• Session A – In-Person: Conducted at Florida International University (FIU), MMC, PG6 Room 144, on September 18, 2026.
• Session B – Virtual: Runs asynchronously throughout September, allowing participants to build and submit remotely.
• Participation Format: Participants can develop projects individually or as a team.
• Core Challenges: The event includes Best Overall, an MLH × Snowflake Challenge, and a Kaggle/Gemma Challenge.

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📅 Important Dates

• Submission Deadline: September 30, 2026, 11:45 PM EDT

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🎯 Eligibility & Rules

• Eligibilty:
• The event is open to students from all majors, and the organizers describe the wider initiative as open to learners worldwide.
• Participants may compete solo or as part of a team.
• Registered participants who submit a completed project can be eligible for participation certificates, subject to the event requirements.
• Devpost submission is mandatory for projects to count as official 305 HackShells submissions.
• Participants entering the MLH Challenge must additionally satisfy the relevant MLH challenge and submission requirements.
• Participants entering the Kaggle Challenge must opt in and complete the applicable Kaggle submission requirements

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🏆 Benefits for the Participants

• Best Overall: Winning team or individual can receive an official 305 HackShells Winner Certificate.
• MLH Challenge: The published prize information lists a $50 gift card per winning team member, for up to four members, giving a maximum value of $200 per winning team.
• Kaggle Challenge: Winner receives a Winner Certificate under the published challenge information.
• The event also lists prize categories for Session A In-Person, Session B Virtual, MLH Best Use of Snowflake, and an LLM Gemma Challenge