HACK THE TRACK 2025
Kentucky's First High School Hackathon
A groundbreaking event that brought together Kentucky's brightest high school students to build innovative solutions and compete for amazing prizes.
Winning Projects
Congratulations to our top three teams! Thanks to Wild for sponsoring these awards.
Vyte
$500 Prize
Data aggregation platform for policy makers to make informed community decisions
SafeRoute
$300 Prize
AI-powered navigation system for safer travel routes
EyeQ
$200 Prize
Computer vision solution for accessibility and safety
Special Awards
Recognizing outstanding achievements and innovative solutions across different categories
Kitchen Vine
Social Impact Award
Innovative solution addressing food waste and community nutrition challenges
Tamaguchi
Retro Refresh Award
Creative reimagining of classic concepts with modern technology
Dormie
Practical Problem Solver Award
Practical solution addressing real-world challenges faced by students
Radar Ride
Stellar Setup Award
Exceptional technical implementation and innovative approach
Smart Prep
Level Up Award
Educational technology solution enhancing learning experiences
Project Seed
Global Impact Award
Solution with potential for worldwide positive impact
Event Highlights
2025 Event Schedule
When
September 5-6, 2025
Friday 5PM - Saturday 9PM
Where
Story
828 East Market
Louisville, KY 40206
Who
Students grades 8-12
in the Kentuckiana region
Teams of 2-6 members
Friday Night – Hacking Session #1 (9:00–10:00 pm)
Goal: Get organized + build a foundation
Pick Your Problem
Choose one challenge area (Education, Environment, Housing, Public Safety, Downtown). Agree on ONE problem to solve.
Brainstorm & Scope
Generate 3–4 solution ideas → vote on the best one. Write down: Who's the user? What's their problem? What's our simple solution? Keep it SMALL → focus on a minimum viable product (MVP).
Team Roles & Tools
Assign roles: Captain, Coder(s), Designer, Researcher, Presenter. Set up GitHub repo + decide tech stack (Replit, Firebase, Figma, Canva, etc.).
Wireframe / Outline
Sketch the app/website on paper or Figma. Decide which 2–3 pages or features are needed for the demo.
Set Milestones
By Saturday lunch → working prototype. By Saturday afternoon → polished + ready for demo.
Saturday Morning – Hacking Session #2 (9:00 am–12:00 pm)
Goal: Build the MVP (something that works, even if rough)
Basic Setup
Coders: set up repo + starter code. Designers: create color scheme/logo in Canva or Figma. Researchers: gather data, APIs, or facts to support solution.
Build Core Features
Website: Home page + 1 working feature (e.g., form, chatbot, map, database). App: Main screen + navigation working.
Checkpoint
Team should be able to click through a rough demo. If stuck, simplify — drop features, focus on making something run.
Saturday Afternoon – Hacking Session #3 (1:00–4:30 pm)
Goal: Polish + add presentation value
Refine Features
Make the MVP stable (fix bugs, smooth out flow). Add one "wow" element (AI tool, fun design, unique feature).
Design Polish
Apply consistent fonts/colors. Add images, icons, or styling to look professional.
Demo Prep
Build a short pitch deck (3–4 slides in Google Slides/Canva): Problem → Solution → Demo → Impact. Decide demo flow: Who talks? Who clicks? Practice once as a team.
Saturday Final Hour (4:30–5:00 pm)
Goal: Submission + last-minute practice
Final Preparation
Submit code/demo link to organizers. Run through the 6 min pitch + 4 min Q&A one more time. Assign backup person in case laptop/projector fails.
Saturday Evening (5:00–7:30 pm)
Judging, deliberation, and celebration
Judging & Demos
Each team: 5-8 min pitch + 2-3 min Q&A with judges.
Dinner Break
Quick meal while judges deliberate.
Awards Ceremony
Announce winners (cash prizes, trophies, swag). Music, photos, networking.
Ready for 2026?
Join us for an even bigger and better Hack the Track experience in September 2026!
Sign up for 2026 event