‘25 Hack Street’ to Represent AAMU at 135th Morrill Act Anniversary Competition

Six Alabama A&M University students, known as “25 Hack Street,” are traveling to Washington, D.C., to represent the University in the inaugural 1890 Cyber & AI Games, a national cybersecurity competition being held September 9 at the University of the District of Columbia as part of the 135th Anniversary Celebration of the Second Morrill Act.

The Second Morrill Act of 1890 provided federal funding to establish or support Land-grant colleges for Black students at a time when many institutions excluded them, ensuring access to higher education in agriculture, mechanical arts, and related disciplines. Alabama A&M, one of the 19 participating 1890 Land-grant HBCUs, is proud to be part of the anniversary celebrations.

Alabama A&M’s team will compete against students from 18 other Land-grant HBCUs and the University of the District of Columbia in a capture-the-flag style contest designed to test skills in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. The theme, “Agroterrorism,” highlights growing threats to U.S. food systems and agriculture. Competitors will face both digital and real-world challenges ranging from digital forensics and web security to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) hacking, reconnaissance, and escape room scenarios.

The team includes:

• Charquenta Dishmon, graduate student in family and consumer sciences (Bastrop, Texas)
• Sydney Fleming, junior in computer science (Decherd, Tennessee)
• Sijan Mainali, sophomore in computer science (Madhesh Province, Nepal)
• Brandon Ramadan, senior in computer science (Mobile, Alabama)
• Karyn Rose, graduate student in food science (Dallas, Texas)
• De’Travean Williams, graduate student in biology (Montgomery, Alabama)

Dr. Lloyd Walker, Dean of the College of Agricultural, Life and Natural Sciences, will accompany the team and emphasized the importance of preparing students to confront emerging global threats. “As the threats facing our food and agricultural systems grow more complex, it’s critical that our students are not only scientifically trained but also equipped to confront real-world issues like agroterrorism,” Walker said. “I’m proud of our students for stepping up and engaging in this cybersecurity initiative – it exemplifies the forward-thinking leadership and interdisciplinary collaboration Alabama A&M is committed to cultivating.”

Team member Sydney Fleming, who interned this summer with Land O’Lakes, highlighted the real-world impact of the competition. “I’ve seen firsthand how cyberattacks can disrupt farmers, the dairy industry, and the entire agricultural economy,” said Flemming. “This event gives me the chance to put those lessons into practice and contribute to protecting the one percent who feed the 99 percent. Representing AAMU at this level is an incredible honor. It allows me to demonstrate not only my skills but also the legacy of excellence our University carries forward.”

Alabama A&M administrators will also be in Washington, D.C., joining leaders from other 1890 Land-grant institutions to mark the 135th Anniversary of the Second Morrill Act through a series of events and celebrations.

For senior Brandon Ramadan, preparing for the competition has been both challenging and rewarding. “We have been researching cyber threats and their impact on the agricultural sector, focusing on how vulnerabilities in smart farming technologies could disrupt food production and supply chains,” Ramadan said. “Personally, I’m mostly looking forward to beating NCAT. To be able to showcase our skills and represent Alabama A&M University is very humbling. We're ready to put our training into action.”

(Photo L-R) Brandan Ramadan, De’Travean Williams, Charquenta Dishmon, Sydney Fleming, Karyn Rose, Sijan Mainali