The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts will host the first HighSchoolHack competition on April 13.
HighSchoolHack is an all-day computer science competition for Arkansas students. The competition consists of a series of challenges and puzzles that focus on reverse engineering, cryptography, programming, pen testing, web vulnerabilities, forensics and other topics.
The event is a “Jeopardy”-style, capture-the-flag competition. Challenges are grouped by categories. Over the course of the competition, participants will work in teams to find solutions and capture as many flags and points as possible before time runs out. The competition is designed to help participants develop knowledge in computer science and cyber security.
“HighSchoolHack is not the kind of event where teams focus on building a solution to one problem and walk away with finished code and a potential product. What you walk away with instead is enhanced understanding of computer science, cyber security, the power of intensive team building, and the knowledge that you just completed something epic,” said Nick Seward, ASMSA computer science instructor and director of the competition, on the event’s website, compsci.asmsa.org/hack.
Competitors do not have to be expert coders to participate. HighSchoolHack is designed to be fun for everyone from hard-core developers to novice tech nerds. Puzzles are designed to help teach skills needed to open other puzzles.
Costs are $50 per team, and scholarships are available if the fee is a barrier to entry. Registration is on the competition website. Individuals who want to compete but do not have enough members to form a complete team may email Seward at sewardn@asmsa.org. He will attempt to place similar individuals together.
Each team member must bring their own computer of choice. It must be able to connect to the school’s Wi-Fi in order to work on the challenges. No monitors or computers will be provided.
The competition will be held in the Creativity and Innovation Complex on ASMSA’s campus. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. with a welcome slated for 9:45 a.m. and the competition beginning at 10. It will end at 8 p.m. with an awards ceremony at 8:30 p.m.
Participants will be provided breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and drinks throughout the day, a T-shirt and other items. To receive a T-shirt, teams must register by March 25.