Leesburg's BusyConf Co-Sponsors 'Hackathon' at TJ High School

When Stephen Glass reported about a company paying big money to hire a computer hacker, it was sensational, but untrue. But Hack TJ, a one-day coding contest this weekend at Thomas Jefferson High School in Alexandria, is for real.

Co-sponsored by BusyConf, a software start-up located in the Leesburg Mason Enterprise Center, the “hackathon” pits high school students against one another to create cool new product – such as mobile apps, websites or widgets – in 24 hours. At the end of the event, each student team will present their product to the judges – they have just three minutes – who will select the winner based on innovation, technical difficulty and quality of the implementation.

“I am eager to encourage the next generation of passionate, tech-savvy students,” said BusyConf founder Ryan McGeary in a press release from the Town of Leesburg. “The hackathon gives students a chance to work together in a real-life setting.”

McGeary began computer programming when he was 13. Recognizing that passion drove his career choice at a young age, McGeary also hopes to hire a high school student as a part-time intern.

“I am looking for someone who has already shown a talent for programming, but wants to learn more,” he said. “I am testing a new hypothesis. I believe that someone who starts with a strong passion for programming at a young age and on their own initiative will be a better job candidate in the long run than someone who chose a college major because there is a potential job market for that skill.”

The Mason Enterprise Center (MEC) is a university-based economic development enterprise that focuses the energy, skills and intellectual capital of George Mason University on enterprise creation and expansion. The MEC Leesburg/Loudoun County, 202 Church Street SE, is in Leesburg’s Historic District. For more information, please visit www.masonenterprisecenter.org.

“The Mason Enterprise Center encourages our clients to get involved both in the community and in their specific industries,” said Susan Henson, Regional Manager of the Mason Enterprise Center Leesburg/Loudoun County. “By sponsoring HackTJ, Ryan is making a commitment to the future of not only his company, but the local software industry as well.”  

BusyConf, McGeary’s seventh startup, provides technology solutions for conference organizers. For more information, please visit www.busyconf.com.