Angela Cheng, 20
From Rejection to Empowering Western Canada’s Hacker Community
Everything changed for Angela Cheng when a passionate teacher opened her eyes to the boundless possibilities of technology. Initially entering high school computer science at her parents' urging, Angela had little personal interest in the field. But her perspective shifted through her teacher, Mr. Joel, a dedicated computer science professional with a passion for teaching. Under his guidance, she wrote her first line of Python, a simple script printing ‘Hello World!’ - she was hooked. She began experimenting with tools like React to craft websites and experiment with new ideas. “I realized that creating innovative solutions to everyday problems is a privilege, and the ability to solve problems excited me in a way nothing else had before.” That shift in perspective led her into the dual Business + Computer Science program at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
Her entry into the hacker world proved that growth rarely follows a straight line. In her first year at UBC, Angela was rejected from nwPlus, the student organization behind Western Canada’s largest hackathons. Undeterred, she networked, pushed through her self-doubt, and earned her spot on the team the following year. "Joining nwPlus was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made," Angela shares. "nwPlus gave me a community; a group of friends and a place where I truly felt like I belonged." She quickly embraced the chaotic, joyful energy of the ecosystem, traveling to Major League Hacking (MLH) events across North America.
Driven to pay that sense of belonging forward, Angela rapidly advanced within nwPlus, becoming the first person to step directly into the role of President during her second year with the club. Today, she leads an organization of 60+ students organizing 3 major hackathons annually, serving as a launchpad for thousands of builders. Angela personally directed cmd-f, UBC’s hackathon dedicated to underrepresented genders: “I strive to create safe spaces for every person,” she explains. “Why should non-binary individuals feel dismayed because the tech industry is so male-dominated? I remember walking into my first computer science class and noticing that around 80% of the students were male-identifying. I had to take a step back as I heard my self-doubts loud and clear: ‘You won’t make it in this industry.’ [...] I promised myself that I would ensure no underrepresented person feels this way."
Under her leadership, nwPlus expanded hacker exchange programs with MLH-affiliated universities, helping local hackers travel to experience diverse regional hackathons. Beyond organizing, Angela loves attending hackathons herself to continuously sharpen her technical capabilities and explore emerging APIs. Traveling to events like HackGT, Hack Western, Hack the Coast, and CalHacks, she was initially overwhelmed by the technical scope of the builds: "American projects were so technically advanced that I had almost lost all hope," she admits. But her breakthrough came when she shifted her approach at Hack Western 12. There, her team built Komo - a search engine integrating multiple platform APIs, including Slack and Notion APIs, so users never lose a document again. Merging her technical skillset with business acumen, Angela pitched the project through detailed competitor analysis and financial projections, securing 3rd place overall.
When she isn't organizing mega-hackathons, Angela finds calm in baking. She often brings her creations to community events, such as baking over 150+ homemade cookies for an applicant hiring social so newcomers feel welcomed. Looking forward, Angela remains dedicated to lifting others as she climbs. "If your goal is learning, you’ll never be disappointed," Angela reflects. "I want people to read my story and feel inspired to challenge themselves, to never settle for 'mediocre.’ I believe everyone has amazing ideas; so go out there and share them at hackathons!”
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Angela Cheng, 20
From Rejection to Empowering Western Canada’s Hacker Community
Everything changed for Angela Cheng when a passionate teacher opened her eyes to the boundless possibilities of technology. Initially entering high school computer science at her parents' urging, Angela had little personal interest in the field. But her perspective shifted through her teacher, Mr. Joel, a dedicated computer science professional with a passion for teaching. Under his guidance, she wrote her first line of Python, a simple script printing ‘Hello World!’ - she was hooked. She began experimenting with tools like React to craft websites and experiment with new ideas. “I realized that creating innovative solutions to everyday problems is a privilege, and the ability to solve problems excited me in a way nothing else had before.” That shift in perspective led her into the dual Business + Computer Science program at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
Her entry into the hacker world proved that growth rarely follows a straight line. In her first year at UBC, Angela was rejected from nwPlus, the student organization behind Western Canada’s largest hackathons. Undeterred, she networked, pushed through her self-doubt, and earned her spot on the team the following year. "Joining nwPlus was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made," Angela shares. "nwPlus gave me a community; a group of friends and a place where I truly felt like I belonged." She quickly embraced the chaotic, joyful energy of the ecosystem, traveling to Major League Hacking (MLH) events across North America.
Driven to pay that sense of belonging forward, Angela rapidly advanced within nwPlus, becoming the first person to step directly into the role of President during her second year with the club. Today, she leads an organization of 60+ students organizing 3 major hackathons annually, serving as a launchpad for thousands of builders. Angela personally directed cmd-f, UBC’s hackathon dedicated to underrepresented genders: “I strive to create safe spaces for every person,” she explains. “Why should non-binary individuals feel dismayed because the tech industry is so male-dominated? I remember walking into my first computer science class and noticing that around 80% of the students were male-identifying. I had to take a step back as I heard my self-doubts loud and clear: ‘You won’t make it in this industry.’ [...] I promised myself that I would ensure no underrepresented person feels this way."
Under her leadership, nwPlus expanded hacker exchange programs with MLH-affiliated universities, helping local hackers travel to experience diverse regional hackathons. Beyond organizing, Angela loves attending hackathons herself to continuously sharpen her technical capabilities and explore emerging APIs. Traveling to events like HackGT, Hack Western, Hack the Coast, and CalHacks, she was initially overwhelmed by the technical scope of the builds: "American projects were so technically advanced that I had almost lost all hope," she admits. But her breakthrough came when she shifted her approach at Hack Western 12. There, her team built Komo - a search engine integrating multiple platform APIs, including Slack and Notion APIs, so users never lose a document again. Merging her technical skillset with business acumen, Angela pitched the project through detailed competitor analysis and financial projections, securing 3rd place overall.
When she isn't organizing mega-hackathons, Angela finds calm in baking. She often brings her creations to community events, such as baking over 150+ homemade cookies for an applicant hiring social so newcomers feel welcomed. Looking forward, Angela remains dedicated to lifting others as she climbs. "If your goal is learning, you’ll never be disappointed," Angela reflects. "I want people to read my story and feel inspired to challenge themselves, to never settle for 'mediocre.’ I believe everyone has amazing ideas; so go out there and share them at hackathons!”
