The Ninth Annual H₂O Hackathon is scheduled for May 2 and registration is now open for participants. The Hackathon is a community-supported event that taps into the technological, multimedia, and problem-solving skills of local students to help find solutions to the state’s water issues. Teams compete for thousands of dollars in cash scholarships, including the CalWater Golden Spigot award. A panel of water experts and community leaders will judge contestant entries. The competition receives support from business, regional water districts, and educational institutions.
The H₂O Hackathon is open to high school and college students competing in two separate divisions in a daylong competition and event on May 2, 2026, at the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) in Stockton. Individuals and teams may register now at h2ohackathon.org. Students in both divisions may compete in either the app-building contest or the multimedia competition.
Students will not learn the exact challenge until the morning of the Hackathon and have five hours to complete their projects to meet the challenge.
Coders in the app-building contest will use the Code.org App Lab or any other coding platform to solve the challenge outlined on the day of the event. In the multimedia challenge, students will develop a marketing strategy or raise awareness of an issue by using a combination of digital media, such as videos, podcasts, graphic design, and social media.
Competitors have an opportunity to build new skills while applying what they have learned in class to real-world issues facing their communities. No coding experience is necessary to participate in the app competition. The H₂O Hackathon website offers a toolkit that shows how to use the coding platform and includes other information for teachers and students competing in both the app-building and multimedia categories.
Competitors may sign up as a team or as individuals. Individuals who sign up will be assigned to a team. High school teams and individuals must be from San Joaquin County. In the college division, individuals and teams must reside in San Joaquin County or attend San Joaquin Delta College, University of the Pacific, or CodeStack Academy.
The H₂O Hackathon has received financial support over the years from a broad range of partners and was founded in 2015 by Restore the Delta, A.G. Spanos Companies, iHub San Joaquin, the San Joaquin Partnership, and Café Coop. Today, the event is organized by the SJCOE’s CodeStack department in partnership with A.G. Spanos Companies, iHub San Joaquin, the San Joaquin Partnership, Café Coop, San Joaquin Delta College, Stockton Unified School District, and California Water Service. Information about sponsors can be found at www.h2ohackathon.org/.
The competition begins at 8 a.m. on May 2, at the SJCOE Wentworth Education Center, 2707 Transworld Drive, Stockton. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony following the competition. The ceremony will be open to the public.
The California Innovation Hub program was codified into law in 2013. It is comprised of 15 regional iHubs, including iHub San Joaquin. The mission of iHub San Joaquin is to help people grow ideas. It works to develop new partnerships, stimulate economic development, create new jobs, and nurture entrepreneurship and enterprises dedicated to innovative and emerging technologies. The iHub San Joaquin is dedicated to re-invigorating the region’s economy as a center for sustainable technologies in three areas: healthcare, agribusiness, and sustainable construction technology.
The San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) provides educational leadership, resources, and services to support schools throughout the county. With its highly regarded programs, innovative staff, and community partnerships, the SJCOE ensures that every student in San Joaquin County has the opportunity of a quality education.
