04/29/2026
This year we welcomed Academy Award-winning visual artist Maritza Louis as the keynote speaker for the 15th National Hackergal Hackathon.
With a career spanning incredible projects like GTA V, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Moana 2, and more, Maritza shared how creativity and storytelling shape the worlds we live in and, just as importantly, the ones that are yet to come.
Her message resonated deeply with our community and her advice about how life isn’t a “paint by numbers” inspired girls* and gender-diverse learners to think outside the box when it comes to exploring how tech and art can merge to build something new. There’s no single path to follow, especially in tech and creative industries, and that’s where your power lies, she shared.
For Hackergal learners, her words were also a reminder that their voices, perspectives, and stories are not only valid, but needed. In an industry where representation still matters, she showed that building your own stories can open doors, challenge norms and inspire others to do the same.
As this year’s theme invites us to create stories that spark change, Maritza’s keynote reminded us that storytelling isn’t just a form of entertainment...it has impact!
Thank you Maritza for inspiring all of us with your words and work.
Missed the keynote? Watch her speech on YouTube (link in bio!).
