More than 300 students from 43 historically Black colleges and universities gathered in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the 10th annual BE Smart Hackathon — a four-day event that brought together some of the brightest young innovators from across the country. Hosted by Black Enterprise from November 5 to 8, the hackathon challenged students to build real-world tech solutions under pressure while working alongside peers, mentors, and industry leaders.
For many students, it was their first chance to transform classroom concepts into functioning prototypes. For others, it was an opportunity to lead, collaborate, and grow in an environment built on creativity and community.
Benedict College was among the participating HBCUs, sending a team of students committed to technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Their involvement reflects the college’s deep investment in digital learning and real-world skill development.
Why the Hackathon Matters for HBCUs
Events like the BE Smart Hackathon highlight a legacy often overlooked in mainstream tech conversations: HBCUs have produced generations of talented engineers, innovators, and entrepreneurs. The hackathon amplifies that legacy by giving students a platform where their skills are recognized, challenged, and celebrated.
For HBCU students, the value goes beyond coding. The event provides:
- Access to industry mentors
- Exposure to real corporate challenges
- Professional networking opportunities
- A supportive environment rooted in collaboration and cultural pride
Students build confidence through hands-on experience while connecting with peers who share similar ambitions. The hackathon’s community-centered atmosphere mirrors the strengths that define HBCUs — a focus on unity, resilience, and shared growth.
Learning Through Collaboration
Over the course of four days, students worked in mixed-major teams to brainstorm ideas, write code, design prototypes, and pitch their solutions to judges. They learned how to think quickly, communicate clearly, and solve problems under tight deadlines.
What made the experience stronger was the diversity within each team. Computer science majors collaborated with business students, engineers worked with creatives, and everyone contributed from their area of strength. This structure reflects real tech environments where interdisciplinary teamwork fuels innovation.
Students walked away with more than technical skills. They learned how to:
- Lead group discussions
- Manage project timelines
- Resolve conflicts and adapt to challenges
- Present complex ideas with clarity
These lessons transfer directly into internships, jobs, and entrepreneurial pursuits.
The Power of Corporate Mentorship and Industry Partnerships
Corporate partnerships have been central to the hackathon’s success since its inception. Companies provide funding, equipment, and—most importantly—mentors who guide students through the competition.
Representatives from major firms, including those in technology and aviation, spent the weekend coaching students, critiquing their ideas, and offering real-time feedback. Their presence underscored a growing industry commitment to supporting Black talent and diversifying the tech pipeline.
For many students, these mentorship connections don’t end when the hackathon does. Corporate partners often stay in contact, offering career guidance, internship referrals, and continued support — extending the impact far beyond the event itself.
Benedict College’s Role in Empowering Young Innovators
Benedict College continues to invest heavily in tech-focused education and entrepreneurship. Its participation in the hackathon reflects a broader institutional commitment to experiential learning. Faculty encouraged students to approach the competition as both a challenge and an opportunity — a chance to apply theory, test ideas, and build confidence.
Students returned to campus with strengthened technical abilities, improved communication skills, and a clearer sense of how to navigate professional environments. These outcomes align with Benedict’s mission to prepare graduates who are not only career-ready but also capable of leading and innovating in their fields.
Bridging Education and Industry
The hackathon showcases the powerful intersection between HBCUs and the tech sector. Students gain access to real-world experience, and companies gain insight into a diverse and ambitious talent pool. This two-way exchange supports a more inclusive tech ecosystem—one that values representation, culture, and varied perspectives.
These events challenge outdated assumptions about who belongs in tech. When HBCU students excel in high-pressure innovation spaces, they help reshape industry expectations and expand opportunities for those who follow.
For the campuses they return to, the momentum carries forward: students share what they’ve learned, inspire peers, and contribute to stronger academic programs.
Lessons That Go Beyond Technology
While coding and design were central to the event, the deepest lessons were human. Participants learned how to collaborate across differences, communicate under stress, think creatively, and stay resilient when fatigue set in.
These soft skills — leadership, adaptability, emotional intelligence — are often the determining factors in long-term success. Hackathons accelerate that growth by immersing students in realistic, fast-paced environments.
For many, the experience served as a turning point: a moment where they realized they could compete anywhere, with anyone.
Representation and the Future of Tech
Representation remains a key issue in the technology sector. HBCU-centered events like the BE Smart Hackathon directly address this by creating visibility, opportunity, and access for Black students pursuing tech careers.
When companies invest in these students and their schools, they help build stronger, more diverse teams. When students step into these spaces and excel, they shift the narrative about who leads innovation in America.
The event’s impact ripples across campuses, communities, and industries, strengthening the pipeline of Black talent entering technology and entrepreneurship.
A Tradition That Keeps Building Momentum
The 10th annual BE Smart Hackathon reflects a growing tradition — one rooted in collaboration, mentorship, and forward-thinking innovation. Each year brings more participation, more opportunity, and more recognition of the powerful contributions HBCU students make to the future of tech.
For Benedict College and the other 42 schools represented, the hackathon was more than a competition. It was a proving ground, a learning experience, and a celebration of potential.
The event lasted four days, but its influence will shape careers, inspire campuses, and strengthen the broader HBCU tech ecosystem for years to come.
