1st Place

- Nintendo Switch per team member
- Along with the Nintendo Switch, each winning team member will receive round-trip tickets to Pinnacle, which invites the world’s top 50 collegiate hackathons for an epic finale event in fall 2021. More information can be found here: https://pinnacle.us.org

2nd Place

- Sony Over-Ear Noise Cancelling Headphone per team member.

3rd Place

- Nespresso Vertuo Coffee and Espresso Machine per team member.

Best Health Hack

You don't need to be a doctor to save lives when your project can. Each wining team member will receive a Samsung Galaxy Fit 2.
This prize is awarded to the team with the best hack related to health.

Best Education Hack

Does your hack promote or support learning? Have you ever thought education could be this fun? Then we have a Raspberry pi ultimate starter kit for each of your team members.
This prize is awarded to the team with the best hack related to education.

Best Environment Hack

Do you like the earth? So do we. Become one with nature. Winners will receive a Rocketbook so you won't need to use paper notebooks ever again.
This prize is awarded to each member of the team with the best hack related to environment.

Best Productivity Hack

Win this challenge and walk away with a Razer Basilisk X Hyperspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse to effortlessly get your cursor to where it needs to be.
This prize is awarded to each member of the team with the best hack related to productivity.

Best AR/VR Hack

Interested in Augmented and Virtual Reality? The EchoAR challenge is the one for you! Win a $50 Amazon gift card, a 3-month free Business Tier access license and a chance to be featured on our “Inspiration” page!
The prizes are awarded to the best VR or AR hack made using the echoAR platform.

Materials Department

Transmission Electron Microscopes (TEMs) are advanced instruments used to view materials at high magnifications, down to the atomic level. When operated in diffraction mode, the microscope provides "diffraction patterns" which contain information on the crystal structure and orientation of the material. We'll provide you with a database of diffraction patterns for various crystals. You will use these to build a program that can automatically "index" experimentally acquired patterns. The challenge will assess both the accuracy and the speed with which you index these patterns. If you want to see examples of the patterns, search TEM SADPs.

Prize: $250 per team member

Heart and Stroke Foundation Challenge

Problem 1: We are looking for a solution to help adults and seniors understand how to manage and prevent hypertension using behaviour change. H&S has a wide variety of blood pressure management content available on its website on lifestyle change subjects such as healthy eating, physical activity and stress management, however it can be difficult to find the right content or get accurate answers to basic questions.
Problem 2: Many adults and seniors use blood pressure monitors that are not ‘smart’, meaning they have limited connectivity to the cloud, no ability to store data or receive feedback on their readings. We are looking for a solution to help adults and seniors who have simple BP monitors with regular digital displays to accomplish 2 key functions:
Convert data to a ‘cloud’ setting to facilitate good data recording to help them monitor effectively, and communicate a clear picture to their physicians
Enable people to receive a real-time interpretation of their blood pressure reading (eg if someone is 140/90, what should they do?)

Prize: $25 Amazon gift card per team member

DSC McMaster Challenge

Utilizing Google's offered products (such as TensorFlow, Firebase, Flutter, etc.), design a solution that aids in helping a vulnerable demographic (ex. elderly, disabled persons, etc.) in performing daily tasks and improving effects of isolation (i.e. improving their mental health and well-being)
Prize: $25 Amazon gift card per team member

ITE McMaster Student Chapter Challenge

This challenge is about letting your team have the freedom to explore and solve any of the problems concerning transportation; issues touching on congestion, sustainability, and safety, all impact how users get around and how goods are delivered. In this open-ended challenge, your team will deliver a product (be it a map-based Android app, a revision on an existing app, a website, or a visual brochure/presentation) which will improve transportation infrastructure or operations in the community in some way. Your team is free to re-envision conventional transportation technology, explore emerging technologies, re-design road networks or transit routes - the sky’s the limit!
Prize: $25 Amazon gift card per team member

AlphaStart Community Challenge

Use historical data and updated vaccination rates to forcast future Covid-19 cases and deaths across provinces or regions. Be sure you can properly explain your algorithms and strategy. Create interface that allows users to view dynamic data with a layout that is clear, informative, and neatly put together.
Prize: Prize: $25 amazon gift card + $250 in Airtable credit per team member.

STEM Powerment Challenge

Design an intuitive web-based program that helps organize and streamline the operations of our mentorship program. How can the pairing process be improved? How can we streamline the application process? How can we make it easier to receive progress updates from mentors and mentees? How can we make it easier for mentors and mentees to connect with each other? How can we better manage and track the success or impact of our program?

Prize: $25 Amazon gift card + $100 pre-paid Visa per team member

Sketch

- Set of sketch individual licenses for the winning design made with Sketch

DigitalOcean

A total of $2,000 in credits to the winning team(s) and $100, 60-day free trial for all attendees using this link: https://try.digitalocean.com/developer-cloud

MLH Best Domain Registered with Domain.com

Register a .tech, .space, or .online domain name using Domain.com during the weekend. Each team may submit one entry per person on the team. Each winning team member will receive a PowerSquare Qi Wireless Phone Charger & Domain.com Backpack.

MLH Best use of Google Cloud

Build your hackathon project with a suite of secure storage, powerful compute, and integrated data analytics products provided by Google Cloud. See full list of products here: g.co/cloud. Each winning team member will receive a Google Branded Parkland Academy Backpack.

MLH Best Hardware Hack Sponsored by Digi-Key (2)

Using your preferred hardware or hardware emulator, build a hack for your chance to win a Grove Beginner Kit, with an embedded Arduino compatible board. 1 prize for each winning team member with 2 winning teams per event!

MLH Best use of DataStax Astra

Apache Cassandra is one of the most widely used database technologies in modern computing with a proven track record of scalability. Just ask Apple, Netflix and eBay. Build a hack using DataStax Astra’s Cassandra-made-easy service and gain in-demand skills along with a chance to win Blue Snowball Microphones for you and your whole team. It’s easy to sign up with 5GB free and no credit card needed. Start becoming a Cassandra expert today!