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The PA Cyber Workforce Alliance (PCWA) hosts Capture the Flag (CTF) cybersecurity competitions for high school students to help them expand their skills, improve their resumes, and increase interest in the cybersecurity field. Below are details about upcoming and previously held competitions.
Upcoming CTF Competitions
Expected spring 2027. Check back soon for updates, or contact us at pcwa-ramps@iup.edu to be added to our mailing list!
Previously Held CTF Competitions
PCWA Fall 2026 CTF
- Dates: October 30–31, 2026
- Registered Participants: 53
- Teams: 23
- Challenges: 10
- Difficulty Levels: Very Easy to Medium
Event Summary
The PCWA Fall 2026 CTF competition was hosted on the Hack the Box platform and included challenges covering digital forensics, cryptography, artificial intelligence (AI), web security, open-source intelligence (OSINT), and reversing. Students were eligible to compete if they were enrolled in a US-based high school. Teams were limited to four players.
Event Winners
- First Place: Piece of Bacon (four members, all members awarded a $75 gift card).
- Second Place: Compooter (three members, all members awarded a $50 gift card).
- Third Place: Senior Slammer (four members, all members awarded a $25 gift card).
PCWA Spring 2026 CTF
- Dates: April 17-18, 2026
- Registered Participants: 30
- Teams: 12
- Challenges: 10
- Difficulty Levels: Very Easy to Medium
Event Summary
The PCWA Spring 2026 CTF competition was hosted on the Hack the Box platform and included challenges covering digital forensics, cryptography, web security, and open-source intelligence (OSINT). Students were eligible to compete if they were enrolled in a US-based high school. Teams were limited to four players.
Event Winners
- First Place: Z341 (three members, all members awarded a $75 gift card).
- Second Place: ScriptSorcerers (one member, awarded a $50 gift card).
- Third Place: CtrlAltDefeaters (four members, all members awarded a $25 gift card).