Computer Science and AI & Data Science students apply their skills at the 2026 HackMidwest competition.
On October 10-11, six Graceland Computer Science and AI & Data Science students traveled to Kansas City, MO to compete in Hack Midwest for the second year.
News of the exciting event first came from Graceland graduate and Alumni Board member, Peter Wilkinson ’93. In 2025 Wilkinson connected Mike Gelphan, founder of Hack Midwest, with Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Arup Ghosh, PhD.
The regional hackathon provides students with the opportunity to collaborate, apply their technical skills, and develop innovative solutions in a competitive, team-based environment.
The task is simple – utilize your skills and knowledge to develop a product of your choice.
The hard part? Coding and development must be completed in 24 hours.
Members of the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) Club, Álvaro Martín-Pena, Andrew Yousessef, Luis Cruz, Seth Dyer, Jaishankar Kumar, and Matthew Cole, rose to the challenge.
For two weeks, the students met twice a week to prepare. They shared ideas, discussed technology options, conducted individual research, and formed a plan.
The day of the event, Martin-Pena ’27, led his team in the production of Densify AI, An AI-powered platform designed to help users track hair restoration progress through photo comparisons, treatment tracking, and AI analysis.
Cole ‘28 and his team developed Fieldcast, a workforce management platform designed to improve employee safety and communication through scheduling, weather alerts, and management tools.
The fast-paced environment required the practical application of in-class exercises. The students’ demonstrated high-level skillsets involving artificial intelligence, cloud computing, full-stack development, and API integration. Beyond technical skills, they practiced communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and working under tight deadlines.
“Their participation represents a valuable experiential learning opportunity and reflects the strong engagement of our students in computing, artificial intelligence, data science, innovation, and collaborative problem-solving beyond the classroom.” Ghosh explained.
The ACM Club plans to continue their participation in Hack Midwest, and pursue additional hackathons and technology competitions throughout the academic year.
“The goal is to give more students opportunities to gain experience, develop their skills, and represent Graceland.” Ghosh added.
Administration and Staff, Press Release
October 14, 2026
Graceland University announces former vice president and long time Graceland advocate, David L Siddall, as new Chair of its Board of Trustees.
Press Release
October 12, 2026
Graceland University has promoted Paul Binnicker to Director of Operations & Strategic Initiatives, expanding his responsibilities to include the development of strategic partnerships and new initiatives designed to connect Graceland’s academic strengths with the evolving needs of employers, communities and the students the university serves.
Press Release
September 8, 2026
Students interested in becoming athletic trainers now have a faster and more affordable path to a master’s degree through a new partnership between Graceland University and Grand View University. The new program offers both 3+2 and 4+2 options for earning both an undergraduate degree in Allied Heath from Graceland followed by the Master of Science in Athletic Training from Grand View.
Administration and Staff, Press Release
September 2, 2026
Graceland University mourns the passing of Professor Emerita Dr. Phyllis O’Daniels, who died Sept. 1, 2026. An alumna, longtime faculty member and university leader, O’Daniels dedicated nearly 40 years to serving Graceland and its students.
Press Release
August 31, 2026
Graceland University and Logan University have established a new 3+3 articulation agreement that provides Graceland Allied Health students with an accelerated pathway to earning both a Bachelor of Science in Allied Health and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree.
Administration and Staff, Press Release
July 20, 2026
Michelle Fillinger ’97 Schamp has been named Associate Dean and Executive Director of Residence Life. In this role, she will provide leadership for the university’s residence life program while fostering a residential experience that supports student learning, leadership, and community.
