Humber Polytechnic Wins Big at National Hackathon Challenge

Students from Humber Polytechnic made their college proud by showing their talent at the CICan National Skills for Success Hackathon, where one team took first place in the exciting event.

The hackathon gave students a real-life challenge to solve using teamwork and creativity. They were guided by mentors and experts who helped them improve their communication, problem-solving, and innovation skills. The whole experience was meant to help students grow personally and professionally.

Emma Martini, who works with Student Success and Engagement at Humber, was a guide during the event. She said she was impressed by how creative the students were and how well they worked together—even though they came from different programs like Nursing, Carpentry, User Experience Design, and General Arts and Science.

All student teams had to design a smart online tool using the Skills for Success model. This model teaches important abilities like adaptability, teamwork, innovation, and clear communication—skills that Humber also focuses on in its learning programs.

By using human-centered design thinking, the teams solved real-world problems in a short weekend. At the end of the event, they received certificates they could proudly add to their résumés.

The winning team, EmpowerCAN, was made up of three students—Jona Espejo (Advertising and Marketing Communications), Arman Raza (Alternative Dispute Resolution), and Christianson Tan (Business Management).

Their task was to use AI (artificial intelligence) to help students get personal career advice in real-time. They created a website that used gamification—like points, badges, and quizzes—to make learning and career-building more fun. The site also included a smart career guide that gave resume tips, interview help, and career suggestions.

“We wanted to show that building your career can be an adventure,” said Jona Espejo.

Arman Raza shared how the event helped him improve his communication skills and confidence, while Christianson Tan praised his teammates, saying, “Jona added amazing visuals and stories to our presentation, and Arman did great research. Working with them was inspiring.”

Emma Martini added that students didn’t just show their talent—they also made strong connections with mentors and professionals. It was a great chance for them to work on something meaningful that supports students and workers all across Canada.

In the end, the team felt proud not just because they won, but because they learned and created something valuable.

“It felt like a dream to win,” said Espejo. “But what really mattered was the experience. Representing Humber Polytechnic was a proud and unforgettable moment.”

Raza also shared, “We were just three members, while other teams had more people. That makes our win even more special.”

Humber’s victory proves that passion, teamwork, and smart thinking can lead to big success—even in a short time.