WKU News

BOWLING GREEN, KY – March 6, 2024 – This year, the WKU Innovation Campus is
sponsoring a two-part Hackathon series wherein programmers, designers, and innovators are
invited to imagine the future of Bowling Green and the Commonwealth. Registration for
Imagine_BGKY’s first installment is open through April 30.

"Our community is brimming with untapped potential. This hackathon is not just an event; it's
a launchpad for local innovators to showcase their talents and contribute to our community's
growth. We're setting the stage for our larger, state-wide hackathon later this year, starting
with the rich talent pool right in our backyard."

Buddy Steen, CEO of the Innovation Campus, is just one community member excited by the
prospect of hackathons in BG! Supported by AccelerateKY, The Central Region Ecosystem
for Arts, Technology, and Entrepreneurship (CREATE), and the new Regional Technology
Council, the Imagine_BGKY Hackathon mini-series is the most recent campaign of the
region’s push toward economic and community development.

“It’s a very exciting time to be in BG!” Nessa Unseld, WKU student and Imagine_BGKY Co-
Lead, remarked about one of Kentucky’s fastest-growing cities. “The goal is to point
development in the ‘crazy sexy cool job creation and community engagement’ direction pregrowth spurt.”

The event was first pitched by Kahlil Garmon, a recent WKU graduate turned EdTech
entrepreneur. He pointed out that right now, identifying and attracting the next generation of
ambitious “builders” should be Bowling Green’s top priority, and a Hackathon is a fantastic
way to do that. A long-time tech enthusiast and now Imagine_BGKY Co-Lead, Garmon
expressed, “I was always going to interesting tech events in Louisville and Nashville and
thought, ‘Why aren’t these going on in BG?’”

Sure enough, Garmon’s wish has been made a reality. The two-part hackathon series will be
kicking off this May. Dedicated to harnessing and unleashing the potential of Bowling Green,
Imagine_BGKY welcomes students, professionals, and community members eager to make
a difference. For registration details and more information, visit the Imagine_BGKY website.

About the WKU Innovation Campus

The Innovation Campus at Western Kentucky University is an intellectual hub that spurs
innovative collaboration, promotes problem-solving, and nurtures talent to elevate the
economy and the region. The Innovation creates an environment where companies can
engage meaningfully with researchers, students, start-ups, and funders to tackle challenges
that grow the strengths and diversity of our nation’s business community. The campus offers
state-of-the-art labs and equipment, collaborative workspaces, and access to expert faculty
and resources. Through partnerships with companies and organizations, the Innovation
Campus provides students hands-on experience and career opportunities while helping
businesses stay competitive by developing new technologies and solutions.

Click Here to register.

Contact

Kahlil Garmon
Team Co-Lead Imagine_BGKY Hackathon
kahlil.garmon@gmail.com

Nessa Unseld
Team Co-Lead Imagine_BGKY Hackathon
janessa.unseld@gmail.com