owengretzinger/mlh-top-hackers-2020-2023 huggingface dataset:
Angela Chen

When Angela was in her sophomore year, she had no idea what she wanted to study in college. She tested the waters in different fields, but what stood out to her the most was her Intro to Computer Science course. Although her first programs were for basic calculations, like one which found the greatest common denominator between two numbers, Angela quickly realized that computer programs could be used to solve a whole host of problems. What appealed to Angela about a career in technology were the countless opportunities to learn new things and pivot to new projects. She says, “technology unlocked purpose and motivation for me—there is always something new to learn.”

During her junior year, when the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe, Angela dedicated herself to learning coding online. Motivated by having something tangible to show for her efforts, she developed applications related to her own interests. Angela watched countless videos and read numerous articles, but struggled to stay motivated in her pursuit. When she attended her first hackathon, MasseyHacks VI, she discovered a new source of motivation. The format of hackathons made learning easier and gave her the direction she needed to advance her career.

Angela was one of two girls in her high school computer engineering class in Ottawa, and constantly felt underestimated by her peers due to her gender. As a result, Angela is passionate about increasing accessibility in tech. She joined Project Tech Careers (PTC) in 2020 and is currently PTC’s Chief People Officer. With PTC, she organized monthly events for middle and high school students, developing curriculum for everything from basic coding literacy to professional career development.

Angela strives to serve underrepresented communities and has helped drive engagement among female-identifying students.“There is a lack of representation in the technology field,” Angela says, adding, “I believe proper representation and a strong support system are critical to nurturing and encouraging anyone to take risks and pursue learning, regardless of the area.” In 2020, Angela competed in the Technovation Challenge, a global community for girls in tech. The mission resonated with her, and she subsequently joined as a student ambassador, hosting workshops, inviting students, and building an environment where aspiring hackers felt empowered to tackle real-world issues.

Angela has participated in numerous hackathons herself, most recently speaking at Hack the North, Canada’s largest hackathon, and hacking at ConUHacks VII. Through Major League Hacking, Angela was introduced to ETHGlobal. Angela’s team competed at ETHToronto and placed in the top 5, which eventually led to earning a full scholarship to attend ETHLisbon and world-renowned tech conference Web Summit in Portugal. Through her first hackathon, Angela was introduced to Shopify and later admitted to their selective Dev Degree program. She currently interns as a security engineer at Shopify while earning her bachelor’s degree in computer science from Carleton University.
Kari Groszewska

Since creating her first Hannah Montana fan site in 2012, Kari Groszewska has had a passion for technology. Early on, Kari saw the potential of technology to impact issues that were deeply important to her, and says she does her best to “ensure whatever I work on has that same effect, whether on myself or others.”

Graduating from high school during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic left Kari itching for interaction with her peers. She found the community she needed when one of her friends introduced her to her university’s hackathon, VandyHacks. At the event, her team was matched with a local center for victims of sexual assault. The experience of collaborating with other hackers to create a project with a real-world impact inspired her desire to organize events like VandyHacks for her community.

By her second semester at Vanderbilt University, she had joined the VandyHacks organizing team as a Director, and has since served as President and Senior Marketing Advisor. Kari says, “Getting to flourish into a leadership position as a freshman with the guidance of the experienced organizers around me taught me the power of mentorship and provided me with the community I really needed.” The feedback they received after bringing VandyHacks back to an in-person format showed her just how important the hacker community was to fellow Vanderbilt students. VandyHacks is certainly in good hands, as Kari has helped select “incredible organizers who share my passion for technology and drive to provide amazing opportunities for others.”

Inspired by her experience organizing VandyHacks, Kari decided to become a Major League Hacking (MLH) Coach. In the role, she has grown as both an organizer and a hacker in her own right. Kari has since participated in WiCHacks, UA Innovate, and several VandyHacks events. Currently, she hosts monthly mobile and  accessibility workshops at  Global Hack Week events. She has also stayed active in Vanderbilt’s broader tech community, striving to bridge gaps in access and share her love of technology with others through her work as the Vice President of Programming and the Grace Hopper Coordinator with Vanderbilt’s chapter of Women In Computing. Kari believes the hacker community is about much more than hacking, and says that “learning, growing, and developing technically or otherwise can come from so many other aspects of this community.”

Kari recently landed an internship with Apple, where she will work through the summer as an Watch Automation Engineering Intern, and she continues to serve as an MLH Coach. Through workshops, hackathons, and community events, Kari relentlessly shares her passion for technology.
Harsh Ghodkar

Harsh Ghodkar has made a name for himself in the hacker community as a blockchain developer and educator. He is the founder of Blocktrain, a community where he teaches blockchain development for free. Harsh is passionate about helping people learn new skills, and he uses his experience to bring new voices into the world of tech.

Harsh first discovered his fascination with computers in high school. He started with C++ and was hooked right away, quickly moving on to different frameworks and languages. He says, “I consider programmers to be magicians because they can create value out of thin air by hitting buttons on a keyboard.” Harsh dove into hackathons soon after, trying different approaches and formats to hone his skills. The time-bound model of hackathons provided the right kind of pressure for him to focus and create.

His first event, HackNagpur 2020, was all he needed to jumpstart his hacking career and engagement with blockchain technology. Harsh's experience in hackathons has expanded his skill set and helped him create a strong portfolio. Winning hackathons motivated him to keep improving, and soon he started getting invites from hackathon organizers to serve as a mentor and judge—he was even accepted into the Major League Hacking (MLH) Fellowship, collaborating with the core developers of Solana.

Harsh's newfound passion for blockchain development led him to found Blocktrain, a learning platform for beginners to help them get started in the blockchain space. His content supports  other developers engaging with Web3, and he has formed a team of motivated individuals to grow the community. Harsh has written various articles and created videos in Hindi to help Indian developers learn about blockchain.

Blocktrain has been a huge success, with its YouTube channel reaching almost 8,000 subscribers and the website getting over 50k monthly visits. Harsh has given back to the hacker community in many ways, including by making blockchain development more accessible to underserved beginners. He is proud to say that, “Now, if I visit any IRL event, I always find people who have used my content.”

Harsh is a core member of GirlScript Summer of Code, an open source event targeted at beginners. He also organizes events like Build Station and local seminars to help other developers learn. He has teamed up with different organizations to make these events possible, including GitHub, Polygon,  Shardeum, Flow Blockchain, and local college groups.

Harsh is passionate about the educational power of coding. Not only has he expanded his own knowledge of tech in leaps and bounds, he has dedicated himself to helping others learn new skills. His contributions to hackathons, especially as a mentor, have made new technologies more accessible. Harsh's impact on the hacker community will continue to grow as he inspires others to learn and advance their careers.
Olsen Budanur

Some individuals stand out as natural leaders, and Olsen Budanur is one of them. With an exceptional work ethic, he’s gone above and beyond to create new opportunities for the hacker community and bring others into the world of tech.

Olsen was a digital child growing up in the DC Metro Area. He loved video games and computers as a kid, but his love for tech really took off in middle school. Using VisualBasic’s GUI-based desktop app, he was able to create simple apps that got him excited for more challenging projects. His coding adventures took off in high school, and he credits Major League Hacking (MLH) hackathons with truly igniting his passion for code.

Olsen’s first hackathon was VTHacks 7 in 2019. It was after this hackathon that his future became crystal clear. He says, “I discovered that I have a passion for coding and building things, and I enjoyed the challenge of coming up with innovative solutions to problems. After the hackathon, I continued to attend various events and meetups within the hacker community.”

Since that first hackathon, he has attended seven more MLH Member hackathons. The enjoyment of building and coding things from scratch has kept his fire burning brightly, and he still thrives in the competitive environment hackathons offer. Through hackathons, he also discovered a side of hacking that he did not realize existed before: community. He says, “Being surrounded by like-minded individuals who share my passion for technology has been incredibly inspiring, and I have made lifelong connections as a result.”

Olsen soon saw his potential as an organizer and a leader. When he enrolled in Davidson College, he jumped at the chance to create the school’s first ever student-led hackathon. Hack@Davidson brought in over 90 participants and Olsen’s team was able to raise more than $6,000 in funding, leveraging the MLH Pizza Fund, to support the event. The best part for Olsen was seeing the excitement, creation, and collaboration going on during the hackathon—he felt that he had made a remarkable contribution to his campus community.

Olsen’s work didn’t stop there. He also founded Competitive Coding at Davidson, which has proven to be a great success. C-CAD prepares members for software engineering jobs and internships, hosts workshops, and competes in hackathons. The team has won 11 prizes across 7 hackathons, including a first place award at CalTech.

Whether Olsen is busy hacking, organizing, or forging new ventures, he is always on an upward track. He says, “I hope to continue to make a positive impact and inspire others to pursue their passion for technology and innovation.” At this rate, he’s well on his way to achieving those hopes.
Brayton Lordianto

Brayton Lordianto attends New York University and is pursuing a degree in computer science. His focus was limited to coding in class until he participated in his first hackathon, HackNYU 2022. Inexperienced but determined to make the most of the hackathon, Brayton joined every available workshop. His hard work was rewarded when he won the Most Engaged Hacker award without writing a single line of code.

Growing up, Brayton was inspired by his dad’s love of technology, but that initial interest began to fade over time. After participating in hackathons, his passion for technology roared back to life.  Motivated by his experience at HackNYU, Brayton spent the summer of 2022 participating in every single Major League Hacking (MLH) hackathon he could find. His devotion was rewarded by wins at highly competitive hackathons, including Columbia University’s DivHacks and HackHarvard, as well as becoming a finalist at HackPrinceton. He enjoyed them all, and his passion for using technology to solve problems grew stronger with each hackathon he participated in.

His hackathon journey has now come full circle. He recently served as the Technical Director for HackNYU 2023. He served as a mentor, an organizer, and a judge all in one. He is proud to say, “I was both in the forefront and behind the scenes in helping make HackNYU 2023 the best experience for the hackers.”

Brayton is involved in New York City’s largest Indonesian student association. He helps host professional events for other Indonesian students to help them advance their careers and acts as a personal resource for Indonesian students interested in technology. Brayton also participates in research, including a project where he is working with a Ph.D. student to add haptics in helmets to keep construction workers safe from vehicles.

Brayton is a talented hacker who is dedicated to using technology to solve real-world problems. His involvement in the hacker community, particularly as a mentor for underrepresented individuals, has changed his life. He is excited to advance his career in technology and help others do the same.

“Perhaps the most significant impact of the hacker community on me,” he says, “is the sense of empowerment and agency it has given me. I used to believe that technology was reserved for the most talented individuals and that I could barely contribute, but I learned through hackathons that anyone can create something amazing with just a little bit of passion, creativity, and determination.”
Utkarsh Tiwari

Utkarsh Tiwari, also known as UT, grew up in a family of teachers. He’s used his skill as an educator to support people across the hacker community. Utkarsh is an active member of the Major League Hacking (MLH) community as a Pod Leader in the MLH Fellowship program and as an MLH Coach. Outside of MLH, he is involved in Lions Clubs International, Leo Club of Walkeshwar Achievers, Leo District 3231 A1 and Leo Multiple 3231. Utkarsh hails from Mumbai, India, and attended Newcastle University in the UK.

Utkarsh's journey into technology began with his study of electronics and telecommunication engineering at K J Somaiya Institute of Technology. Initially, he struggled with programming. Engineering was new to him and he was discouraged by feeling lost in a complex subject. Luckily, the process of building robots reengaged his passion for hacking and led him to discover a new interest in hardware. He went on to serve as CTO and later the chairperson of KJSIT-IETE, where he experimented with microcontrollers and various programming languages. Today, he shares this knowledge and experience with the entire hackathon community.

Utkarsh's first introduction to hackathons was at BackyardHacks 2020. He went on to join several other MLH hackathons, and enjoyed the experience so much that he was inspired to organize his own hackathon, Hackticks. He says, “Participating in hackathons has had a profound impact on my personal growth. I’ve become more confident and sociable, shedding my former stage fright and learning to communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.”

Participating in hackathons has been a transformative experience for Utkarsh. He enjoys giving back to the community in his role as an MLH Coach and Pod Leader. He approaches teaching with a patient and supportive attitude, ensuring that coders have what they need to successfully build a project.

He says, “I believe that by fostering a culture of collaboration and mutual support, we can build a stronger and more resilient hacker community. I’m always eager to motivate and inspire others to work together, share their knowledge and skills, and grow both as individuals and as a team.” He brings a powerful combination of empathy, teaching ability, and knowledge to boost future hackers to their full potential.
Trinh Le

As an undergrad at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), Trinh Le knew about hackathons and computer science, but was committed to pursuing a career in medicine. Her first hackathon changed her entire trajectory. HackUTD VIII was the first event she attended. She was unsure of what to expect at first, but after winning first place for a sponsor challenge, she said, “even though I felt like we built something basic and could have done more, I was very proud of our accomplishment. Winning was the start of it all.”

That hackathon kicked off a flurry of events as Trinh made it her goal to enter as many as possible. Soon, she discovered—and grew to love—the community that goes along with hackathons. As she remembers, “We were like a traveling band going around on a hackathon tour and encouraged as many people as we could to partake in our weekly road trips around Texas. Not only did I learn so much from my new friends and teammates, I felt like I was part of the hacker community.” Trinh sees the people she meets at hackathons as her reason to continue learning and evolving as a coder.

Hackathons did more than just solidify her coding skills, though. They let her open up as a person and come out of her shell. At hackathons, she met like-minded people with similar interests working together towards a common goal, creating tangible projects with real-world applications. At 2023 HackTAMU, Trinh gathered an unlikely group of newcomers and led them to create a valuable and dynamic project. Trinh remembers teaching a teammate React Native and Expo while also designing the pages of the application. Working together as a team, they were able to bring together a finished project and even win the Best Use of MatLab prize!

Trinh Le began coding later in her student career, but that hasn’t slowed her down. Ever since she discovered her love for technology and hackathons, she has been on a mission to share her knowledge with others. Her constant commitment to newcomers in the hacker community has made hackathons more accessible. She dedicates as much time to looking for opportunities to help others as she does to discovering new boba tea shops.

She says about her entry into the world of hacking: “I was only a beginner but the possibilities were infinite.” Though she’s already accomplished a lot, those infinite possibilities are still ahead of her.
Mrunank Pawar

Through his involvement in the hacker community, Mrunank Pawar has transformed from an “extreme introvert” to a confident leader and mentor. Mrunank's first hackathon experience was Winter Hacklympics 2020 organized by Major League Hacking (MLH). Prior to attending the event, Mrunank had very little knowledge of hackathons, but the experience made a huge impact on him. He was able to collaborate with other hackers and learn new skills like time management and teamwork.

He says, “After the event, I was hooked on the hackathon community and continued to participate in similar events whenever I could. It was a great way to challenge myself, learn new skills, and make meaningful connections.” Mrunank has since contributed to numerous hackathons both as a participant and as a mentor. His passion for technology and innovation has been instrumental in his success, and he has developed a keen interest in sharing his knowledge with others.

Mrunank is a part of many clubs and organizations, allowing him to broaden his tech knowledge while he grows his network. He is the founder of Club TechBrewers, a community of 1,300+ across 85 different colleges and 75+ cities. Club TechBrewers hosts skill-building events to help students develop their coding abilities. In addition, he has spearheaded local hackathons including Hack This Fall and Hack The Mountains. He also serves as a Spark AR Campus Ambassador. In that role, he organized his own AR-focused hackathon for 700+ participants.

Early in his hackathon experience, Mrunank struggled with imposter syndrome. Before joining the hacker community, he identified as an introvert and experienced constant self-doubt. He was unsure if he could keep up in a competitive environment. Still, he persevered and found that the community rallied to support him. He has not only become a more confident person, but also a more skilled programmer. As he says, “Over time, I realized that stepping out of my comfort zone and pushing myself to try new things could lead to some amazing opportunities.”

Mrunank's personal growth and passion for technology have helped establish him in the hacker community. He has made vital contributions by sharing his knowledge and expertise to create opportunities for others. Mrunank plans to stay involved in hackathons and events while giving back to the community and inspiring more people to consider coding.
Banibe Ebegbodi

Banibe Ebegbodi was afraid of pursuing a career in technology. Though she loved to create, and had always wanted to build battle dolls like in the manga Angelic Layer, she couldn’t see a future for herself in tech. “Even though the story encouraged young girls to achieve the impossible,” she remembers, “I still shied away from the industry based on the fact that I did not see many people who looked like me within it. As a black woman, entering in predominantly male spaces was intimidating and it discouraged me a lot from pursuing my interests.”

Once she reached college, she realized she wasn’t the only one impacted by a lack of representation in tech. Support from her campus community at the University of Georgia encouraged her to pursue computer science on her own terms. Her first leadership role on campus was Web Design Chair for Franklin Residential College, where she created an initiative showcasing her fellow community members’ successes. Banibe also joined Girls.Code(), the sister organization to the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), and was appointed as the Public Relations and Graphics Executive Board Member of ACM. She promoted the club's events and meetings by designing physical flyers and Instagram posts while working with the Membership Chair to increase engagement at meetings. The next year, Banibe was promoted to Vice President of ACM. This move was a game-changer. As she says, “my self-assurance continued to skyrocket.” Self-doubt no longer held her back.

Banibe was also appointed as Marketing Director for UGAHacks 8, where she played a crucial role in organizing the first Makeathon event. The event was a collaboration between the School of Computing and the School of Engineering to create a space where 250 makers could create and explore physical technology, such as 3D printing. Banibe 3D printed UGAHacks signs and used a laser cutter to create Makeathon awards. She also helped participants receive school credit for their projects. As a result of all her hard work, she is now in line to be the Lead Director of the upcoming UGAHacks9.

Banibe’s goal is to create a thriving community in which hackers support their peers and push each other to grow and learn. She says, “Whether it is through organizing events, mentoring hackers, or providing resources for learning and growth, I believe that every little bit helps in creating a more inclusive and vibrant hacker community.”

In addition to her work with UGAHacks, Banibe volunteered and mentored at HexLabs’s 2022 hackathon and TechTogether Atlanta 2023. Banibe's commitment to promoting involvement and knowledge-sharing has made her invaluable to the tech community. Banibe's continued involvement in community events and her work as a Major League Hacking hackathon organizer will undoubtedly inspire others to follow their own paths into technology.