Welcome to AcademiesHacks 2023!
The Academies of Loudoun is excited to host its 5th annual hackathon! This hackathon will be entirely in-person and you will have two days to complete a project of your choice. Various tech mentors can assist you and you can learn about leading-edge technologies from a number of interesting workshops. Prizes will be awarded to the best of each category judged on many aspects.
Prizes
We have LOTS of prizes for you! We want as many people to win as possible, so please be sure to submit your projects for consideration! Here are some of our prizes:
JBL Portable Waterproof Wireless Speaker
Arduino Uno
Workshops (and Activities)
Beginner
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Micro:bit
Finch bots
Intro to Python
Intro to Java
MIT App Inventor
Intermediate
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Game design
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Python applications
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Web design (HTML/CSS)
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Graphics and Animation
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Intro to PC building
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UI Design
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Intro to ML
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Blender Animation
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Intro to CISCO
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CTF
Advanced
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APIs
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Software Reverse Engineering
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Parallel Programming
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Ethical hacking & penetration testing
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ROM hacking
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Intro to Music Production
Activities
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Code Golf
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Minecraft
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Wii Sports
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Research Project Presentations
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Chess
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Tetris
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Cornhole
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Mafia
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Virtual Reality
Guest Speakers
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ManTech
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Janelia
NEW! Capture the Flag Contest
On Saturday (May 20) from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, AcademiesHacks will be hosting FlagFest!, a live, in-person, CTF competition event. All LCPS high school students are invited to register a team for the contest. Teams can consist of up to 3 students (with 1 student alternate) to represent their school in this fun-filled cyber skills competition. CTF winners will be announced immediately after the contest concludes. $500 in prizes will be awarded to the top teams.
To sign up, participants must be LCPS students. The contest is limited to the first 15 teams to sign up, so submit your team registration form below.
An email will be sent out to each student registered for the contest. Each contest participant MUST fill out an individual registration form that is required for participation in the ACL Hackathon CTF. If you have any questions, email john.chapin@lcps.org or jeremy.staples@lcps.org.
Note: For the beginners and students unfamiliar with CTF Contests, the hackathon will also be hosting a CTF workshop with mentors available to walk you through some of the challenges and help you learn how to play.
All CTF competitors will be in the auditorium during the competition and are ineligible to participate in the Hackathon
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a hackathon?
An event where students can learn leading-edge technologies, build projects, and meet like-minded people, all for free!
Who can attend?
AcademiesHacks is open to all middle and high school students. Adults and post-high school students can volunteer and mentor.
Do I have to pay?
No, everything is free. Shirts and food will be provided for students and mentors.
Is there a deadline?
The registration deadline for students, volunteers, and mentors is May 13th.
Do I need a team?
You can work alone or in groups of a maximum of 3 people.
What should I bring?
Make sure you bring a laptop and a laptop charger.
Is this overnight?
You can code overnight if you'd like, but the hackathon will be split between two days.
What if I don't know how to code?
You can still show up and attend all the workshops. Most workshops are available for beginners. In addition, there are many mentors available to help you.
How do I know I've signed up successfully?
You'll receive a confirmation email along with a student information packet.
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