{"id":29933,"date":"2026-03-23T09:30:49","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T13:30:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/?p=29933"},"modified":"2026-03-25T10:57:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T14:57:35","slug":"hacks-with-friends-2026-recap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michigan.it.umich.edu\/news\/2026\/03\/23\/hacks-with-friends-2026-recap\/","title":{"rendered":"Hacks with Friends 2026 Recap"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Hacks<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Nine teams of creative and technology-minded staff members from across all four University of Michigan campuses collaborated in person at the 12th<\/sup> Hacks With Friends (HWF)<\/a>. The event took place on March 5 and 6, 2026, at the Ross School of Business. It was the first time HWF had come back to Ross since the 2020 event, just days prior to the pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Co-chairs Joseph Lubomirski (UM-Dearborn) and Kenny Moore (ITS) marked their fifth year leading HWF, welcoming 70 members of the Michigan Technology Community to Robertson Auditorium. Over two days, participants tackled nine proposed hacks<\/a> accepted for the event over a two-day period.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Kenny
Kenny Moore, ITS, (left) and Joe Lubomirski, Dearborn ITS, (right) returned for their fifth year as co-chairs for Hacks with Friends.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Lubomirski said, \u201cI keep co-chairing this event because I love seeing what diverse technology professionals from across our university can accomplish in just a day and a half, experimenting, problem-solving, creating, and achieving real results that improve our work and business.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After lunch on the second day, each team delivered a three-minute presentation of their hack, hoping to secure votes from their peers and the public. The top five teams (with a tie for fourth place) earned the chance to present a 10-minute, in-depth presentation to a panel of judges. Awards were given for first, second, and third place, and the People\u2019s Choice award honored the team with the greatest public support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The collaborative spirit at Hacks with Friends made it easy for newcomers; even those of us without highly technical or development backgrounds, to learn, contribute, and feel valued. The event not only sparked innovation, but also empowered participants to carry forward new ideas and build on what we created together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 First-time HWF attendee Louis Daher, data security analyst in Michigan Engineering<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

2026 Hacks with Friends Judges Awards<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n