Pre-Event Kickoff for 2026 NASA Space Apps Challenge (Iligan)

​Ever since I stumbled upon the NASA Space Apps Challenge on Facebook last year, I’ve been secretly hoping to be part of it, but my heavy academic workload kept me from joining then. When the opportunity popped up again this year, I was thrilled to learn about the local event in Iligan, which is close to my hometown. It felt like a dream come true, and I knew I couldn't pass it up.

Attending the pre-event webinar on September 12 was an eye-opening experience as past participants shared their honest hackathon journeys, including how they handled unexpected last-minute changes under pressure. Hearing about the 24-hour hackathon environment, complete with the excitement of late-night coding and free snacks, made me even more eager for what's ahead. As a first-timer who wasn't sure what to expect, learning about the archive of past submission projects was a huge help, and I spent hours exploring past entries for inspiration. Overall, the session left me inspired, and I am excited to see what I will discover and accomplish throughout this journey.