---
title: A ‘Nerd Sleepover’—and Much More
date: 2024-10-29T05:30:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/a-nerd-sleepover-and-much-more"
section: Articles
---
# A ‘Nerd Sleepover’—and Much More

*October 29, 2024* — by [Ruby Siefken ’26](/author/ruby-siefken-26)


> Technica Celebrates 10 Years of Building Coding Community of Women, Underrepresented Genders

*Technica 10262024 RS 1797 1920x1080 — Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller talks at Technica with the South Brunswick, N.J.-based team of (from left) Bhavya Tanugula ’28, South Brunswick High School senior Anika Thakur and Esha Vigneswaran ’28. The trio developed an app called “Locked In,” which aims to help students focus on homework by blocking users from accessing distracting websites and providing warnings to users when their eye movements stray from their computer screens.*

It’s 23 hours into the world’s premier hackathon for women and underrepresented genders in tech, and tables covered in energy drinks, crumpled disposable coffee cups and discarded meals stretch across the Reckord Armory’s main gym.

The bouncy pop music has stopped, leaving only the scattered chatter of teammates and the clicking of computer keys. One student rubs the bridge of her nose and squints at her screen through pursed fingers while the other hand frantically spams the backspace key, racing the deadline.

“It doesn’t have to be perfect, just submit what you have,” a voice says into the microphone.


*Students in Reckord Armory for Technica — Technica 2024, a technology hacking event for women and nonbinary folks, marked its 10th anniversary at the Reckord Armory with more than 1,700 registered competitors.*


*students work on laptops at Technica — From left, Josie Daw, Khloe Pointer, Yena Paek and Anna Pincus (not pictured) work on an app called “Listings” to help people find housing in an easy and accessible way. Daw participated in Technica virtually in the past and traveled from South Korea for this year’s event.*




**Topics:** [Campus & Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community)


**Tags:** [Academic Competitions](https://today.umd.edu/topic/academic-competitions), [Computer Science](https://today.umd.edu/topic/computer-science), [Gender](https://today.umd.edu/topic/gender), [Student Experience](https://today.umd.edu/topic/student-experience)


**Units:** [College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-computer-mathematical-and-natural-sciences)