The Eckerd College Information Technology Services staff recognized student and staff winners of the annual Hackamajig cybersecurity awareness contest on Friday, October 30, 2026. Photo by Penh Alicandro ’22
Nine levels of cybersecurity puzzles, dozens of hidden cats, and a $500 scholarship were among the challenges and rewards awaiting Eckerd College students during this year’s annual Hackamajig competition.
The interactive contest brought students, faculty and staff together to test their problem-solving skills, explore cybersecurity concepts and compete for prizes—including a $500 cybersecurity scholarship. This year, Katie Lee, a junior political science student from Johnson City, Tennessee, earned the title of grand champion, becoming the first woman to win the competition.
Hosted by Eckerd’s Information Technology Services department, Hackamajig is designed to make cybersecurity education more engaging and accessible to the campus community. The competition, held annually for seven years, challenges participants to solve puzzles using clues and exploring concepts such as cryptography. This year’s contest introduced a new platform called Synthwave Beach, allowing participants to log in with their Eckerd accounts, save their progress, and return to the challenge at any time. The contest featured nine levels, each presenting different cybersecurity puzzles. Challenges ranged from identifying phishing attempts to decoding messages and understanding how computer systems work.
Kevin Celebi, the designer of Hackamajig, presents the grand champion trophy to Katie Lee.
According to Chief Information Officer Walter Moore, the primary goal of Hackamajig is to increase awareness of cybersecurity among students while encouraging them to think critically about technology they use every day.
“Everyone is constantly on the internet, and their data is potentially exposed,” Moore said. He emphasized that students should be aware of common threats, including phishing emails and suspicious public Wi-Fi networks that can put personal information at risk.
The homescreen for the 2026 Hackamajig cybersecurity challenge.
Moore explained that the Hackamajig began seven years ago as a way to make cybersecurity awareness more interesting for students. While faculty and staff participated in traditional online training programs, ITS wanted to create a more interactive experience for students. The competition offers an opportunity to learn about digital security through exploration, creativity, and problem solving.
The challenge also encourages skills that extend beyond technology. Moore noted that participants must navigate unfamiliar environments, interpret clues and develop solutions, all abilities that can benefit students in scientific and intellectual fields.
For Lee, participating in Hackamajig offered an opportunity to explore something outside her usual academic interests.
Information Technology Services awarded prizes to students who completed all nine levels, including a $500 grand prize scholarship.
“I’ve always enjoyed puzzles and problem-solving, so when I heard about the competition, I thought it sounded interesting,” Lee said. “I’m a political science major, so it was also a chance to try something outside my usual coursework.”
Although she entered the competition simply looking for a fun challenge, Lee said she was surprised when she learned she had won.
“I was honestly pretty surprised,” she said. “I went into the competition just wanting to have fun and challenge myself, so actually winning was really exciting. It was definitely rewarding to see all that time spent figuring out the puzzles pay off.”
The year’s competition saw 20 participants complete at least one level, with seven students successfully finishing all nine levels. The other winners included: Keilan Bargo, a sophomore biology student from Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Riley Fioresi, a junior business administration student from Oswego, Illinois; Joseph Raia, a junior physics student from Dillon, South Carolina; Levi Keyton, a senior marine science student from Fort Smith, Arkansas; Cassandra Sciarra,a senior animal studies and biology student from Patterson, New York; and Zekiel Thuma, a junior animal studies and creative writing student from Seffner, Florida.
Moore said that he is constantly impressed by how quickly students complete the challenge.
“We’re always surprised by how quickly it gets solved,” Moore said. “It’s just a testament to how many creative and knowledgeable students there are on campus.”
For Lee, one of the most memorable moments of the competition came after completing the puzzles, when participants had the opportunity to search for a hidden phone.
Cloud/Software Engineer Kevin Celebi presents a prize during the recognition ceremony on Oct. 30.
“After spending so much time working through all the different puzzles, it felt like everything I had done was finally leading up to something real. Actually getting to go out and search for it turned the whole experience into an adventure,” Lee said.
In addition to the competition, participants could search for 40 hidden cats throughout the platform. Thuma found all 40, earning the title of student cat-click champion. Staff members also participated, with Penh Alicandro ’22 completing all nine levels and Henry B. Cowhey ’21 finding 35 cats.
As the first woman to win the Hackamajig, Lee hopes her achievements encourage other students to participate in future competitions. She said she was unaware of the distinction until it was brought to her attention during the interview.
“I actually didn’t even know I was the first until you mentioned it, but I think that’s really cool!” Lee said. “Hopefully, seeing someone like me win encourages more people to participate in the future, especially those who might not think cybersecurity is something they would be good at.”
As grand champion, Lee received a $500 cybersecurity scholarship, which she plans to put towards her college education.
For Moore and the ITS department, the competition’s success goes beyond the winners. The goal is to encourage more students to explore cybersecurity and recognize its importance in their everyday lives. ITS hopes to continue expanding cybersecurity education opportunities and finding new ways to engage the Eckerd community in the future.
