New student computing org helps student prep for tech careers

FIU students are known for their drive, support for one another and commitment to success—qualities that helped earn FIU the No. 1 public university ranking for student experience by The Wall Street Journal. That same spirit is powering the rapid rise of Code Crunch, a student organization that began as a small group of computer science majors prepping for technical interviews and has grown to more than 100 active members.

Founded at FIU in 2024, Code Crunch brings together students from a wide range of academic backgrounds to explore tech education and build real-world industry connections.

The student-led organization invites students to hackathons, organizes high-profile speaker events and facilitates closed-door recruiter meetings. The goal: help Panthers from all majors and backgrounds get a foothold in tech.

"We want to create a platform where any student can participate and build skills they can showcase on their resume, whether they're a biology major working on health services applications or a business student pitching startup ideas,” says Brian Bazurto, the organization's founder and president, who is pursuing a computer science degree with a minor in business analytics.

Here are some of the ways this initially small group of Panthers has managed to make a big impact.

305 Hackathon brings blockchain education to campus

Code Crunch's signature event, the 305 Hackathon, held this past March, drew more than 120 participants both in person and virtually. The two-day competition featured 16 different tracks organized by academic major, encouraging students to develop projects relevant to their field of study while learning cutting-edge technologies.

A major highlight was the educational partnership with the development team working on the blockchain platform Cardano. The group led workshops on smart contract development, cybersecurity validation systems and the hardware infrastructure that powers blockchain networks. Students learned about Aiken, Cardano's primary programming language for smart contracts and explored how blockchain technology extends far beyond cryptocurrency into data validation and security applications.

"The workshops covered everything from the mathematical foundations to the technical implementation," explains Kianoosh Boroojeni, associate teaching professor at the Knight Foundation School of Computing and Information Sciences and an expert in blockchain and artificial intelligence.

"Students got exposure to technologies that will be crucial as we move toward more AI-integrated systems, where data security and validation become even more important."

For senior computer science major Emdya Permuy, the hackathon provided an opportunity to step outside her comfort zone. Working with three teammates, she helped develop Root Bud, a mobile productivity app that gamifies focus time by growing a virtual plant as users complete tasks without distractions.

"I usually focus on technical front-end and back-end work, but I wanted to experiment with UI/UX design using Figma and Canva," Permuy says. "The mentors from Code Crunch were incredibly helpful, teaching us about prompt engineering and using AI to fill knowledge gaps we had in coding. It was a great experience collaborating and creating something in such a short time."

The hackathon featured judges from Silicon Valley and Wall Street and provided students direct access to industry professionals, who offered mentorship throughout the event—sometimes available until 4 a.m. to help troubleshoot projects.

Industry connections continue to expand

The organization's reputation has attracted attention from major tech companies seeking to recruit FIU talent. Members recently participated in a session with Meta recruiters, focusing on machine learning and AI opportunities. The event, hosted by the College of Business and the Honors College, invited active members and honors students who demonstrated relevant experience in artificial intelligence, machine learning or related technologies.

"Having these connections to industry leaders gives students opportunities for mentorship that extend beyond our events," Bazurto explains. "Students can get referrals for internships and build relationships with professionals who understand what companies are looking for in new graduates."

Code Crunch members are also given access to advice from top industry experts. Corey Rizzi-Wise, a vice president in data engineering for the Global Banking & Markets division at Goldman Sachs, dropped by virtually to offer the Panthers career advice.

"The technology you’re learning now might be outdated in 18 months, but the human relationships you build will always matter," he said.

“Keep learning, stay curious, and never underestimate the power of connection.”