12th Annual ISACA Detroit Chapter Scholarship Competition

ISACA Detroit is excited to announce our 12th Annual Scholarship Competition.  This competition is designed to enrich the experience of students by providing them a “real world” experience. In the competition, contestants work on a case study and present their conclusions to a panel of industry professionals who will play the role of potential future employers.  

The contestants not only have an excellent chance to win some cash, but the 1st place university also earns the right to display the Dr. Bob Okopny Cup (just like the Stanley Cup) for the next year.  So, let the competition begin!

This year the competition will start on March 13 at 6 pm and end on March 15 around 4 pm.  

Registration closes at 12:01 am on Thursday, March 12, 2026.

The format of the competition is as follows:

• You are free to form a team.  It can be a team of one, or a team of many (no limit). 
  • Usually it is good to have team members with diverse backgrounds (e.g. one with security background and the other with MIS or business background).
• A university can send multiple teams to the competition.
• Teams will be competing for three scholarships:  1st place is $4,000, 2nd place is $2,500 and 3rd place is $1,500. 
  • The first place team's university will get to keep the ISACA Detroit Cup.
  • The winning teams will get framed certificates.
  • All participants will get an honorable mention on ISACA’s website and a one-year membership to ISACA Detroit Chapter.
• It is also possible for the judges to give out more than one 1st place, 2nd place and/or 3rd place award in case of a tie. 
  • One year, we had two teams getting a 1st place award of $4,000 each and two teams getting a 3rd place award of $1,500 each.
• This year, Wayne State University has graciously agreed to host the event on March 15, 2026. 
  • The Mike Ilitch School of Business is located at 2771 Woodward Ave, Detroit MI 48201.
  • Meeting location information will be provided prior to March 15. 
• Teams will be emailed a case study by 6 pm on March 13, 2026. 
• Teams will be expected to work on the case study until 12 pm (noon) on March 15, 2026. 
  • The teams will then present their solution to the judges at their assigned time slot.   
  • The winners will be announced after all the teams have presented - around 3 pm on March 15, 2026. 
• The winners and participants will be invited to the following ISACA Detroit Chapter meeting (most likely on April 15, 2026) and the awards will be formally presented at that time.