CSU Tech Week 2026 High School Hackathon Engages Young Innovators

The Department of Computing, Information and Mathematical Sciences, and Technology (CIMST) at Chicago State University hosted a High School Hackathon Challenge on July 21, 2026, as part of Chicago State University Tech Week 2026. The event brought local high school students to the CSU campus for a hands-on experience focused on technology, innovation, teamwork, and real-world problem solving.

Two side by side photos of students working in a computer lab. In the first, three students sit at a long desk while looking at one student's monitor. In the second photo, four students sit side-by-side, each in front of a computer with worksheets.

A young man with locs uses a computer mouse while looking at a monitor alongside a young woman in a computer lab. Printed handouts, a black backpack, a smartphone, and a water bottle sit on the desk in front of them.

The event was organized by Dr. Mohammad Abdus Salam, Chair of the CIMST Department, with the support of undergraduate and graduate Computer Science students. CSU students played an important role in supporting the event and engaging with the high school participants throughout the hackathon.

Students seated at desks in a computer lab view a slide presentation displayed on a large screen at the front of the room.

A student points to a slide presentation on mental health while co-presenting in front of a computer lab classroom.

During the challenge, high school students worked collaboratively in teams to address real-world issues affecting young people and their communities. Challenge areas included online safety, technology balance, mental health, career awareness, community engagement, school communication, and youth leadership. Teams analyzed their selected problem, developed an innovative solution, and transformed their ideas into tangible deliverables such as posters, guides, roadmaps, and awareness campaigns.

The hackathon provided participants with an opportunity to strengthen important skills in critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, and problem solving, while experiencing how technology and innovative thinking can be applied to challenges beyond the classroom. The involvement of CSU undergraduate and graduate Computer Science students also provided high school participants with opportunities to interact with current college students and learn more about studying computing and technology at the university level.

View from behind a group of students seated around a shared table alongside an instructor reviewing papers, with additional computer workstations and students visible in the background.

At the conclusion of the event, participating teams presented their solutions to a panel of judges. Projects were evaluated based on creativity and innovation, teamwork, feasibility, presentation quality, and potential community impact. Awards were presented to recognize the outstanding work of the top-performing team(s).

The High School Hackathon Challenge reflects CIMST's continuing commitment to STEM outreach, community engagement, and developing the next generation of technology leaders. CIMST congratulates all participating high school students and extends its appreciation to the undergraduate and graduate Computer Science students who helped make the event a successful and engaging component of Chicago State University Tech Week 2026.