NSU’s Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences (GSCIS) will host a technology conference, its second annual ITPalooza, also known as South Florida’s Holiday Tech Party, on Dec. 12 in the Carl DeSantis Building.
ITPalooza will feature more than 1,500 local information technology professionals from more than 50 user groups — which are groups of people who focus on specific technical programs, such as South Florida Android Developers and Amazon Web Services — along with IT businesses, such as RSA Security and Host.net.
Admissions officers from GSCIS will table at the DeSantis Building atrium with information regarding early admission. Students will have the chance to apply for early admission into the school’s master’s programs from 1 to 5 p.m. in the ITPalooza job opportunity room.
To apply, students will need a resume and a copy of their transcripts from any previously attended colleges. The usual $50 application fee will be waived and applicants should receive a decision on the same day. If accepted, students will meet with on-hand academic advisors to register for classes.
Eric Ackerman, dean of GSCIS, expects around 2,000 attendees at ITPalooza, based on RSVPs. The day will include technology education sessions, professional networking opportunities and a job fair. There will also be all-day hackathons, through which participants will learn how to write programs and publish them to the Windows 8 and Windows 8 phone stores.
Ricardo Achong, first-year graduate student of management information systems, said, “Even if you’re not a student in computer science, it might interest you because right now everything is being used on computers, and it’s a good opportunity to learn about something different.”
Last year, ITPalooza raised more than $30,000 for U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program, Big Brothers Big Sisters Broward, Big Brothers Big Sisters Miami and the STEM Advisory Board for Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Charitable donations were made by 1,200 members of the local IT community who attended the event. The money was raised from the optional $25 donation attendees can give during their online registration. ITPalooza will also host its annual drive to collect new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots. The toys will be distributed as Christmas gifts to children in the community whose families can’t afford to buy presents.
Ackerman said, “It’s a great opportunity to not only network with others, but there are also various ways of learning about different types of technology.”
The day will begin with all-day hackathons at 8:30 a.m. with breakout sessions presented by representatives from IT companies and a job fair beginning at 1 p.m. The day will end with a courtyard holiday party from 5 to 9 p.m., featuring a live performance by the ITPalooza Band, led by Host.net’s Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President of Business Development Lenny Chesal.
Ackerman said that ITPalooza will be bigger than last year and that GSCIS plans on hosting the event every year.
To register, visit itpalooza.e2mktg.com/get-tickets. Online registration is free for attendees who promise to bring two unwrapped toys with at least a $12 value for Toys for Tots. Registrants can also donate $25 for a ticket. Tickets at the door are $40, cash only.
For more information, contact Alex Funkhouser at 305-651-6500 or visit itpalooza.org.
