Students from the College of Computer and Information Sciences at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University achieved top placements across several tracks at the “Defensethon” Hackathon, organized by Tuwaiq Academy in collaboration with the General Authority for Defense Development. The hackathon was held at the Academy on May 6, 2026. Lina Al-Dakheel, a student in the Data Science and Analytics Program in the Department of Information Systems, won first place in the university category of the Software track for developing an AI-powered solution to detect low-altitude threats. In the Robotics track, Lina Faisal Nasser Al-Qahtani, Layan Fayez Ali Al-Shehri, Rahaf Lafi Mnahi Al-Otaibi, and Rama Omar Mohammed Al-Saab, students in the Information Technology Program, won third place for their innovative project, “THABAT.” The project is an intelligent training system that uses a Smart Glove and mixed and virtual reality (MR/VR) technologies to analyze hand stability while performing precision tasks in sensitive environments. Dr. Manal Al-Ouhali expressed her pride in the students’ achievements, noting that their success reflects their capabilities in technology and innovation and highlights their contribution to national defense and technology projects. She added that these achievements support the College’s vision of developing future-ready skills and enhancing students’ competitiveness. The “Defensethon” Hackathon features several tracks, including Software, Robotics, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, and Digital Manufacturing, and is open to both university and school students. It aims to foster creativity and innovation in defense and advanced technology fields. The students’ achievements reflect the College's commitment to developing students’ innovative and intellectual capabilities and supporting the objectives of the University’s Strategic Plan. These objectives include preparing competitive graduates, developing knowledge, skills, and values, and fostering an environment that fosters creativity and innovation.