COLUMBIA (AP) – Hundreds of computer hackers have converged on the University of Missouri to participate in a weekend hacking marathon that organizers hope will help spur interest in computer programming in the Midwest.

As many as 350 college students and a small number of high-schoolers are taking part in HackMizzou, in which teams of two to five students are spending the weekend creating computer and mobile applications. The Columbia Daily Tribune reports the winning team will earn a $4,000 technology prize pack.

Organizer Gabrielle Perdieu, a senior business major at Missouri, says last year’s event yielded some amazing projects. For instance, one student hacker created Bully Finder, software that allows parents to access their child’s social network profile and search for abusive behavior.

The event runs through Sunday.