innovateDAFITC Hackathon 2026
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Hosted by: Montgomery TechLab | University of Alabama Dept of Educational Studies | AFCEA | SAF/CIO | University of Alabama Crimson Defense
Your Mission Starts Here.
Are you ready to outsmart, outpace, and out-hack the competition?
The innovateDAFITC Hackathon is back—and this year, it’s all about speed, strategy, and teamwork in an exciting Capture the Flag (CTF) cybersecurity competition! Open to high school students from Montgomery, Autauga, Elmore, Macon and Black Belt counties, this event challenges you to think critically, solve problems under pressure, and dominate in a head-to-head tech showdown.
You don’t have to be a hacker to compete—just bring your brain and your team!
Students will form teams to solve puzzles, crack codes, and tackle cybersecurity-themed challenges across multiple difficulty levels. From logic problems to technical skills, you’ll learn as you go, earn points, and race to the top of the leaderboard.
What You’ll Get:
- Real-world cybersecurity challenges in a fun, team-based format
- Mentorship and support from military, university, and tech professionals
- Exposure to high-demand tech career paths in national security
- Lunch, prizes for the top team
- A front-row seat to how tech and defense go hand-in-hand
Why Join?
- Test your skills in a competitive, fast-paced environment
- Learn about careers in cybersecurity, defense, and tech
- Gain experience you can talk about on college and scholarship applications
Share this
Hosted by: Montgomery TechLab | University of Alabama Dept of Educational Studies | AFCEA | SAF/CIO | University of Alabama Crimson Defense
Your Mission Starts Here.
Are you ready to outsmart, outpace, and out-hack the competition?
The innovateDAFITC Hackathon is back—and this year, it’s all about speed, strategy, and teamwork in an exciting Capture the Flag (CTF) cybersecurity competition! Open to high school students from Montgomery, Autauga, Elmore, Macon and Black Belt counties, this event challenges you to think critically, solve problems under pressure, and dominate in a head-to-head tech showdown.
You don’t have to be a hacker to compete—just bring your brain and your team!
Students will form teams to solve puzzles, crack codes, and tackle cybersecurity-themed challenges across multiple difficulty levels. From logic problems to technical skills, you’ll learn as you go, earn points, and race to the top of the leaderboard.
What You’ll Get:
- Real-world cybersecurity challenges in a fun, team-based format
- Mentorship and support from military, university, and tech professionals
- Exposure to high-demand tech career paths in national security
- Lunch, prizes for the top team
- A front-row seat to how tech and defense go hand-in-hand
Why Join?
- Test your skills in a competitive, fast-paced environment
- Learn about careers in cybersecurity, defense, and tech
- Gain experience you can talk about on college and scholarship applications