From Graceland to
Hack Midwest

Peter Wilkinson ’93

Josh Obersteadt ’27

Álvaro Martín Peña ’27

When Graceland computer science students Álvaro Martín Peña ’27 and Josh Obersteadt ’27 packed their laptops and headed to Kansas City for Hack Midwest, they weren’t just joining a hackathon — they were stepping into one of the Midwest’s largest gatherings of developers, designers, and engineers.

Wilkinson’s introduction to Hack Midwest came years ago while working at the startup Pharmacy RX Saving Solutions, where he served as Vice President of Product alongside a team of engineers. The company’s head of engineering was a passionate advocate for the hackathon, encouraging teams to participate. Curious, Peter attended one of the early events himself.

“It was filled with energy and innovation,” Wilkinson recalled. “You had teams from all kinds of organizations — big corporations and small startups — coming together to build creative solutions in just one weekend.”

Five years later, Wilkinson transitioned to Select Quote, a company with a large IT organization and a strong culture of collaboration. Through a mutual connection, Mike Gelphman, the founder of Hack Midwest, reached out to see if Select Quote might get involved. That’s when Wilkinson had a new idea — one that connected his professional world back to Graceland.

“I realized big universities were sending teams [to Hack Midwest], and I thought, why not Graceland? How could I help make that happen?”

PETER WILKINSON ’93

Arup Ghosh, PhD

Wilkinson connected Gelphman with Arup Ghosh, PhD, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Graceland, who helped coordinate the University’s participation. What followed was a meaningful partnership — one that gave Graceland students access to a vibrant, real-world learning environment.

A Student’s Perspective: Learning Beyond the Classroom

For Martín Peña, a junior from Moralzarzal, Spain, majoring in Computer Science and Information Technology and a member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Club student chapter, Hack Midwest was an experience unlike any other.

“You have the opportunity to talk with many companies and even CEOs looking for talent. We got to meet a lot of people who share the same passion — people who are always trying to improve.”

ÁLVARO MARTÍN PEÑA ’27

Martín Peña and his teammates joined forces with two students from Missouri Western University, gaining firsthand experience in collaboration and problem-solving across institutions. “It was really nice to meet people from other colleges,” he said. “Working with people you don’t know is important for what we want to do in the future.”

Together, they coded for 24 hours straight, developing an AI-powered marketplace app for college students. The platform allowed users to buy and sell materials securely within their university community, using a .edu email and student ID verification system.

Visiting Professor of Computer Science Aquila Galusha ’16 was on hand to witness the atmosphere firsthand. “The students were let loose on their own, and only participants were allowed inside,” he said. “It was row upon row of teams — hundreds of people gathered together. You could tell everyone was exhausted, but worked hard.”

Through the vision of an engaged alumnus and the dedication of its faculty and students, Graceland made its mark at Hack Midwest — proving that innovation, creativity, and collaboration thrive not only in large institutions but also in the small, connected community of Lamoni, Iowa.

Looking ahead, Wilkinson hopes Graceland will continue to strengthen this connection, helping students link to professional communities in Kansas City and beyond. “I think of myself as a connector,” he said. “Whether it’s helping people know which companies to look at in Kansas City or supporting connections across the country.”

Wilkinson’s story underscores the power of alumni networks to expand opportunities, bridge generations, and help Graceland students step confidently into the wider world.

Looking to stay connected and help drive student success? Consider joining the GU4U networking community! Find out more: graceland.edu/GU4U