PBA hosts first-ever code-a-thon to serve local church community.
On March 9 and 10, Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) students gathered in Rinker Hall for PBA’s first-ever code-a-thon, a two-day collaborative event designed to use technology in service of Workship and ministry.
Led by Dr. Michael Kolta, 13 students partnered with Pastor Jacob Kimbrell of Family Church Downtown to improve the digital presence of Block Party, a large teen outreach event that welcomes hundreds of middle and high school students each year.
Real-World Experience with Real Impact
Pastor Kimbrell shared the heart behind Block Party — an outreach event that combines high-energy activities such as laser tag, sports tournaments, interactive games, and live worship sessions with clear Gospel teaching and opportunities for prayer.
Last year’s Block Party welcomed approximately 600 students, with dozens responding to the Gospel message and many seeking mentorship and prayer. The website serves as the primary “front door” to the event, and students recognized the importance of designing a digital experience that accurately communicates the event’s energy and purpose.
“This isn’t just about building a webpage,” Kimbrell shared. “It’s about helping tell the story of something that makes a real difference in students’ lives.”
Coding with a Purpose
Unlike a traditional hackathon focused solely on technical competition, this code-a-thon centered on impact. Students worked to redesign and enhance the Block Party website — the primary platform where students and parents register for the event.
The goal was clear: create an engaging, high-energy, mobile-friendly webpage that reflects the excitement of Block Party while providing clear, trustworthy information for families.
Throughout the event, students collaborated to improve the website’s overall design and branding consistency, enhance mobile responsiveness, correct formatting issues, and strengthen the overall user experience. The team also worked on updating registration flows for middle and high school students, and adult volunteers, while ensuring greater clarity in key event details such as cost, dates, and accurate countdown features.
The Team Behind the Impact
The event was made possible through the dedication and collaboration of the following students: Virginia Borja, Kaylee Davidson, Sydnie Dorleus, Michael Hernandez, Ethan Lawson, Adam Leatherman, Esteban Lugo Garcia, Allexander Menezes-Britto, Brayden Monthei, Madison Piedra, Isai Rabanales, Sarah Reiff, and Anthony Zolriasatin.
These students represent a strong group of computer science and related majors, all motivated by both professional growth and meaningful impact. Among them, Borja and Davidson, both student-athletes who took time out of their busy schedules to contribute to the project. Borja also works with PBA’s website design team, bringing valuable experience while gaining additional real-world insight through this opportunity. Davidson participated to gain real-world team experience and use her skills to make a meaningful impact on the community.
Similarly, Hernandez, who majors in game design as well as computer science, was drawn by the opportunity to gain experience and build fellowship with others. Leatherman participated to develop collaborative skills while also serving others and the Lord. Monthei saw the event as both a fun and valuable learning experience and contributed by playing guitar and singing during a worship session in celebration of the project’s completion. Finally, Rabanales participated to gain experience and use his skills in service. All participating students also received Workship hours for their involvement in this impactful project.
Looking Ahead
The success of PBA’s first code-a-thon marks the beginning of what organizers hope will become an annual tradition on campus. PBA has participated in similar code-a-thon events that have been hosted in Colorado Springs by LightSys. This year represents a new kind of collaboration as part of a growing partnership with LightSys that PBA hopes will continue to develop in the years ahead.
By combining innovation, teamwork, and ministry impact, the event demonstrated how technology and faith can work together to create meaningful and lasting change. Students were energized by the experience and are already envisioning next year’s code-a-thon project — potentially expanding the improved website into a fully developed mobile app.
As students left the computer labs, they walked away not only with hands-on development experience, but also with the satisfaction of knowing their work will help welcome hundreds of students to an event designed to share hope, build community, and share the Gospel.
Learn more about PBA’s upcoming events at https://www.pba.edu/events/.
