University of Delaware students Ella Wilkins (left) and Gia Scozzaro led a team of students to organize and run HenHacks 2025. The students gained hands-on experience in leadership, event planning and team collaboration and the students’ close-knit bonds played a key role in the hackathon’s success and continued momentum.

‘Hack the Past’ looks toward the future

Article by Kathryn Trupia Photos courtesy of the Department of Computer and Information Sciences | Photo illustrations by Joy Smoker June 05, 2025

With nearly 500 attendees and a growing legacy, HenHacks proves what a tight-knit, motivated student team can achieve

When senior Ella Wilkins and junior Gia Scozzaro came to the University of Delaware as first-year students, HenHacks was merely an idea. Now, in its third year, the event attracted nearly 500 attendees from around the country.

"I’m incredibly grateful to each and every one of our organizers,” said Wilkins, co-coordinator of HenHacks along with Scozzaro. “The overwhelming success of this hackathon filled me with pride for how far we’ve come, and hope for where we’re headed.”

Brought to life in 2023 by a small group of students from the Computing Promotions Undergraduate Squad (CPUs), the first HenHacks was a modest event with minimal leadership, limited sponsorship and little planning. But even in its humble beginnings, it was clear that the CPUs, including Wilkins and Scozzaro, were deeply passionate about the event and its growth.

Hackathons like HenHacks bring together driven students to innovate for good. Over two days, participants team up to complete a set of projects in fields such as AI, cybersecurity and more. Both beginner and advanced hackers alike are encouraged to deliver tangible outcomes, while collaborating with others.

“After the first year was so successful with such little preparation and a quick turnaround, we knew that [HenHacks] had the potential to be something much bigger,” said Wilkins, who is also an honors student.

In just three years, HenHacks has grown 140%, attracting participants from 54 universities and drawing strong support from industry sponsors. The 2025 event featured five project categories, including a beginner track in generative AI.

That potential soon became a reality. Since its inaugural year, HenHacks has seen explosive growth in production, participation and sponsorship. The 2025 Hack the Past themed hackathon drew 472 students from 53 schools, more than doubling its 2023 registration.

Behind the scenes, Wilkins and Scozzaro learned how to confidently lead a team of over 20 students without dominating the conversation. Together, the co-directors prioritized a collaborative environment, encouraging everyone to contribute ideas equally.

“I wasn’t there to be the boss,” Scozzaro said. “I was there to guide the team, keep us on track, and make sure everyone felt like a collaborator with a voice at the table.”

Working together in CPUs helped the team form strong bonds and connections that carried over into planning a successful hackathon. Their ability to build connections and maintain team energy helped drive consistent momentum and keep spirits high throughout the planning process.

That kind of strength doesn’t just happen overnight. The tight-knit dynamic of the CPUs made a real impact in two big ways.

First, collaborating on real projects beyond the classroom gave organizers practical experience in leadership, planning and performing under pressure.

Second, it created a strong sense of community. The friendships built within CPUs were based on shared goals and the excitement of building something that mattered. Those strong connections were a big reason HenHacks kept its momentum going from start to finish.

“I'm so incredibly proud of our students and their ability to put together an event of this size so successfully,” said Debra Yarrington, associate professor in the department and faculty advisor to the CPUs. “In just three years, the hackathon has grown to be an integral part of our undergraduate experience as well as having an outstanding reputation outside our university, and this is all due to the hard work, professionalism, passion, and creativity of our students. I cannot praise them highly enough.”

The student organizers brought energy, creativity and community spirit to every stage of planning, helping the hackathon become one of UD’s most dynamic student-led events.

"The community we built within the team was key to our success,” Wilkins said. “When you're genuinely friends with the people you’re working with, you care more, support each other and work together to get the job done.”

The close relationships shared by members of the team were so strong that many UD alumni came to support this year’s hackathon.

“I think that's another great thing about our event,” Scozzaro said. “It's not just for the undergraduates and the people who are here, it's also for our alumni who want to come back, help out, and show some UD pride.”

“Some [alumni] didn’t even sign up, they just showed up to help, which is the kind of energy HenHacks creates,” Wilkins said. “That’s the CPUs’ whole mission: to create a strong, lasting community. The fact that so many people return and take an active role is proof that it’s working.”

The resounding success of the HenHacks campaign and day-of hackathon demonstrates the hard work exhibited by Wilkins, Scozzaro and the organizer team. For Scozzaro, having a supportive team to lean back on made all the difference.

“I am so incredibly proud of the passion and commitment everyone demonstrated in helping HenHacks 2025 come to life,” Scozzaro said. “The energy of our organizers kept me motivated even through rocky times, and words can't express how truly grateful I am to have such a strong team behind this event.”

One thing is for sure. HenHacks will continue this upward momentum in the future.

“Something about HenHacks is that every year we get better, and it's been like that for three years,” Scozzaro said. “I'm confident in saying that trend is going to continue.”