Capture the Flame Recap

By: The Scorpio Experience

This year, the Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) at UIC Chapter and the LatinX Organization for Growth in Computing and Academics (LOGICA) hosted our very first Capture the Flame event, and it was a huge success! With over 150 student competitors, 30+ volunteers ranging from industry professionals to students, 3 judges from our sponsoring companies, and 4 incredible sponsors, we brought this vision to life and created something meaningful for the cybersecurity community at UIC.

What is Capture the Flame?

Capture the Flame is a cybersecurity competition designed to help students from undergraduates to master's to break into the cybersecurity field. The competition featured beginner and advanced tracks to ensure everyone could participate and grow, regardless of experience level.

Participants from various schools came together to solve real-world challenges modeled after professional scenarios in cybersecurity. These challenges included reverse engineering, cryptography, steganography, forensics, web security, and more. Our goal was to not only provide a fun, hands-on experience but also to showcase to the College of Engineering just how critical cybersecurity is in today’s world.

The Event

We hosted 80 total challenges (40 for each track) released in timed waves throughout the day. Students formed 70+ teams, working on-site with support from 20 mentors, both online and in person.

The competition created a space for learning, teamwork, and networking. Mentors observed that while students didn’t initially ask for much help, many began seeking guidance as the event progressed which demonstrated them being eager to solve the problem. It was rewarding to see students take ownership of their learning and rise to the challenge with our support.

The Impact

The event left a strong impression on both students and sponsors. Several companies expressed interest in supporting future WiCyS UIC and LOGICA events, inspired by the quality of the competition and the energy of the students. For our organizations, this was more than just a competition; it was a moment to prove the value of hands-on learning and to advocate for stronger cybersecurity education on campus.

What Students Said

Student feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Many appreciated how the event pushed them to think critically and introduced them to areas of cybersecurity they hadn’t explored before. It wasn’t just a challenge. It was a gateway into a potential career path.

Capture the Flame was just the beginning. We’re proud of the community we built and excited for what’s next. Thank you to our participants, mentors, judges, and sponsors for helping us spark a new tradition in cybersecurity at UIC!

Photos:

Capture the Flame

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