# Hack the Track

> Kentucky's first high school hackathon, founded in 2025 by students at duPont Manual High School in Louisville, Kentucky.

## About

Hack the Track is a nonprofit student organization that hosts Kentucky's premier high school hackathon. The organization was founded in 2025 by Annika Chadha, a student at duPont Manual High School, after she attended a hackathon and realized she was the only high school student in the room. Hack the Track provides students in grades 8-12 with hands-on coding experiences, mentorship from industry professionals, and the opportunity to build technology solutions for real community challenges.

## 2025 Inaugural Event

The first Hack the Track event was held September 5-6, 2025, at Story (828 East Market Street, Louisville, KY 40206). The 24-hour hackathon brought together 75+ students from across Kentucky, supported by 15 mentors and judges from the local tech community.

### Challenge Tracks
- Environmental & Infrastructure
- Housing Accessibility
- Public Safety
- Downtown Revitalization
- Education

### Winning Projects
- Vyte: Data aggregation platform for policy makers ($500 prize, sponsored by Wild)
- SafeRoute: Navigation app for safer commuting ($300 prize)
- EyeQ: Computer vision solution for accessibility and safety ($200 prize)
- Kitchen Vine: Food waste reduction platform
- Tamaguchi: Interactive educational tool
- Dormie: Student housing resource
- Radar Ride: Transportation safety app
- Smart Prep: AI-powered study assistant
- Project Seed: Community garden planning tool

## 2026 Event

Hack the Track 2026: Build for a More Sustainable Future is scheduled for September 11-12, 2026, at Genuine Work (750 E. Jefferson St, Louisville, KY 40202, in the NuLu neighborhood). This year's theme is sustainability, with three tracks: Software Coding, Hardware Making, and Sustainable Fashion. The day before the hackathon, September 10, is Learnathon — hands-on workshops and sessions in hardware, software, and sustainable design. The event is free to attend for all students in grades 8-12, open to all experience levels, and includes cash prizes, mentors and workshops, team formation, project judging, and meals and snacks. Sign up at https://www.hackthetrack.org/register.

## Team

- Annika Chadha — Founder & President, duPont Manual High School
- Ajay Sutaria — Vice President
- Maylin Kidwell — Secretary
- Helen Bai — Secretary
- Dan Ross-Li — Partner, KYCombinator 40below40

## Endorsements

Kentucky Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman recorded a welcome message for the 2025 event, endorsing Hack the Track and expressing support for Kentucky's future tech leaders.

## Sponsors

Humana, Story, Blue North, SparkHaus, Wild, Louisville Bats, Five Iron Golf, GSE, Papa John's

## Contact

- Email: info@hackthetrack.org
- Website: https://www.hackthetrack.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hack_the_track_ky/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/hackthetrack_ky
- Discord: https://discord.gg/DRFaMBuFqB