Michelle Willard

USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

MURFREESBORO — Enterprising college students from around the state gathered at MTSU over the weekend to tackle some real-world problems and ignite their entrepreneurial spirits at the first Hack-MT.

Over the course of the weekend, software developers, visual designers, programmers and computer science students from area universities — Middle Tennessee State, Belmont, Fisk, Vanderbilt, David Lipscomb and others — gathered to invent new web platforms and mobile applications in MTSU’s new science building.

“I’m amazed at what they have done over the weekend,” said Amy Henderson, an MTSU alumna and partner at Nashville-based LeanKit, the hackathon’s presenting sponsor.

On Friday night, about 200 students offered their ideas and teams coalesced to develop 16 products over the weekend with the help of 25-30 mentors, who worked in shifts to help the teams, organizer Brendan Wovchko said.

Over the next 36 hours, the teams worked together writing code, eating pizza, drinking energy drinks and sleeping on the floor of the science building — until Sunday morning when the computer whizzes presented their creations for industry members and fellow creators to vote on their favorites.

Teams developed games and apps for everything from expanding the sharing economy to tracking elderly people with a GPS, Wovchko said.

The winner was Team Space Jam, which developed an app that teaches the user how to play the piano using graphics and MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) files. For its presentation, the team used files like the theme song to Super Mario Bros. and the song "Final Countdown."

Team member Micah Hauge, a freshman at MTSU, described it as “the piano version of Guitar Hero.”

MTSU junior Steven Sheffey was inspired by his desire to learn to play piano, he said.

“I wanted to make it more accessible,” Sheffey said.

Making computer science and industry professionals more accessible to students was the goal of Hack-MT, said Chris Pettey, professor and chairman of computer science at MTSU.

Pettey said she had hoped that the young developers would learn to work in groups, test their skills and make network connections, Pettey said.

“I really wanted them to realize that they could do something new and quickly and build their confidence,” Pettey said.

For one team, they may not have won the voting Sunday morning, but Bud Fischer, MTSU dean of basic and applied science, gave them the biggest vote of confidence.

The group of MTSU students developed a tutoring web application, said Tanner Deason, a team member and MTSU junior.

He explained they all had experienced a problem finding a tutor on campus, so they developed a Web app that hosts a message board for students to post questions on in search of answers. It is similar to a Web version of Homework Hotline.

Team leader Randy Davis said they wrote both the front-facing website and backend server-side for the app over the weekend using a variety of computer languages.

“I want to be able to come in (to an interview) and say ‘I can do this. Hire me,’ ” Davis said.

While Davis said he learned skills that will help him find a job, Fischer said he wants the app to help other students.

“I need those guys to finish it so we can (use it),” Fischer said.

Contact Michelle Willard at 615-278-5164, on Twitter @MichWillard or Rutherford County Business News on Facebook at facebook.com/DNJBusiness.

Hackers Choice Awards

Gold Motherboard Award: Team Space Jam

Developed an application for a keyboard that can teach the user to play. Similar to Guitar Hero.

Silver Graphics Card Award: Team Myo

Developed additional gesture controls for the Myo armband, which is a muscle-sensing gesture control device.

Bronze Network Card Award: Team Mooch

Developed a smart phone app for the sharing economy that allows users to rent their things to others. Similar to AirBNB or Uber, but allows for more rental items.