36 Hours.
200+ Hackers.
Infinite Creativity.

SMathHacks is the annual 36-hour hackathon hosted by the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, open to all North Carolina students. Students will collaborate to build innovative software projects, explore new technologies, and have fun along the way. In short, this is your ticket to meet new friends and build cool projects in 36 hours.

SMathHacks is beginner-friendly, and participants will have access to inspiring talks, hands-on workshops, and expert mentors to guide them through the event.

The hackathon is virtual for non-NCSSM students, allowing all North Carolina high schoolers to participate from their homes. Students from NCSSM can join in person at either our Morganton or Durham campuses.

Interest Link

In-Person

All NCSSM residential students are invited to participate in person on both the Morganton and Durham campuses. Throughout the event, you'll have access to free food, live speakers, workshops, and most importantly, time to work on your projects!

Virtual

NC residents who are non-NCSSM-residential students can participate in SMathHacks virtually! The opening ceremony, workshops, and closing ceremony will all be broadcast through Zoom. All Zoom invite links will be available through our website (smathhacks.ncssm.edu) or through email, which will be sent to registered participants.

FAQ

If we haven't answered your question here, please feel free to email smathhacks@ncssm.edu and take a look here!

See last year's projects!

Thanks to everyone who participated in the 2025 hackathon. Feel free to check out the projects here!

What's a hackathon?

A hackathon is an event where students work in a team, or by themselves, to build an innovative piece of software in a limited amount of time. Students will form teams around a problem or idea, and sprint to create a unique solution—these typically take the form of mobile applications, websites, or other digital solutions, however, hardware projects will also be accepted under specific regulations.

What if I’ve never programmed before?

That’s okay! This event is beginner-friendly, meaning that you don’t need any prior programming experience to participate! There will be incredible talks, workshops, and mentors available to guide you through the ideation and development process.

Where’s the schedule for the event?

The opening ceremony will start 9 AM on March 14th, and the closing ceremony will be on March 15th. Expect to have a weekend full of workshops and hacking! We will release the full schedule soon!

What is a “track”?

A “track” is designed to help focus your ideation process. Think of it as an “impact area” for you to hack in. We’ll name a winner from each track.

How do teams work?

You can have up to four people in a team. You can specify teammates when you register or register individually. If you don’t have a team yet, that’s okay—we’ll have a team formation event to help you find people to work with.

Can I use AI to help me brainstorm?

Yes, but you cannot use AI to program a primary part of your project. For a more detailed description, see our Use of AI Statement.

36 Hours. 200+ Hackers. Infinite Creativity.