The university’s business cybersecurity major is proving to be a powerful launchpad for students, with senior Mallory Hamilton recently clinching victory at the Summer Open 2025 Hackathon.
Hamilton leveraged her coursework to win a major hackathon, showcasing the real-world applicability of her studies.
- Senior Mallory Hamilton won the Summer Open 2025 Hackathon.
- The win highlights the practical skills gained from her business cybersecurity major.
- Hackathons foster teamwork, problem-solving, and technical application under pressure.
- Hamilton’s team focused on continuous security assessment and employee training.
- The business cybersecurity major integrates business concepts with technical skills.
What skills are crucial for success in cybersecurity competitions? Hackathons, events where teams tackle existing problems with creative solutions, demand “creative problem solving,” according to Hamilton.
Hamilton, along with teammates Hunter Forsythe and Williams Beaumont from UAB, competed in the cybersecurity division. They went head-to-head with other developers, designers, and tech professionals, tasked with building functional prototypes like software tools and security solutions within tight deadlines.
“This hackathon allowed my team and I to solve a real-world problem and bridge gaps between our classroom learning and practical application,” Hamilton shared. “We didn’t just have technical growth, but we were able to foster amazing teamwork, communication skills, and presentation skills in just 36 hours.”
Preparation for the event involved studying continuous security assessment integrations and automated employee training. The team developed a management dashboard designed to monitor company-wide security. Their winning pitch featured visuals, slide decks, and a demonstration of the platform’s functionality.
The hackathon, held virtually over 36 hours, kicked off at 6 a.m. with the official prompts. Hamilton described the intense period leading up to submission as “go-time.”
“This experience directly connects to what I’ve been learning in my cybersecurity and information systems courses at The University of Alabama,” Hamilton said. “It reinforced the technical and teamwork skills we practice in class and showed how valuable they are outside the classroom.”
Hamilton characterizes her university curriculum as hands-on and project-based. It incorporates real-world case studies to teach risk assessment and system protection, emphasizing cybersecurity’s impact on organizations.
“The coursework emphasizes problem-solving, critical thinking, and staying current with evolving threats — skills that directly translate to practical experiences like competitions,” Hamilton explained. “It’s helped me approach challenges with confidence and work effectively as part of a team.”
She noted that the business cybersecurity major leans towards the technical aspects while maintaining a holistic view of business applications. This differs from the College of Engineering’s cybersecurity major, which focuses more on programming, algorithms, and software development.
“Business concepts are deeply integrated into our cybersecurity curriculum in several meaningful ways. We frequently develop business proposals and pitch ideas, which helps us practice essential communication and presentation skills alongside our technical knowledge,” Hamilton said. “This approach prepares us to clearly and professionally explain complex cybersecurity concepts to non-technical audiences, an important skill in any organization.”
The increasing prevalence of cyber risks to government and company systems is driving demand for majors like this. The integrated learning approach provides students with career opportunities, such as the hackathon, to test their knowledge in practical settings.
Hamilton values her growth as a student, particularly through opportunities to contribute to peers and faculty. The on-campus cybersecurity club, The Crimson Defense, has connected her with a diverse group of students.
“They welcomed me with open arms, and I have not just been able to gain technical cybersecurity skills, but also a close-knit community of friends I can always rely on,” Hamilton said.
“Programs just like this one often attract a more diverse group of students because we are helping break down traditional barriers,” Hamilton added. “My goal is to encourage and support the next generation of women to confidently enter and thrive in the fields of technology and cybersecurity.”
