Rotary Club of Madras and Shrine Vailankanni Showcase Tamil Nadu’s Young Innovators at The White Hats – HackFest 2026

Chennai: Rotary Club of Madras, in association with Shrine Vailankanni Senior Secondary School, T. Nagar, hosted the Grand Finale of The White Hats – HackFest 2026, a statewide inter-school technology hackathon in Chennai on November 3. From over 120 entries across Tamil Nadu, the top 50 finalist teams from Grades 9–12 presented working prototypes addressing healthcare, education, sustainability and civic infrastructure. Research experts from VIT Chennai evaluated the innovations. 

Dr. R. Kumar, Minister for Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology and Digital Services, Government of Tamil Nadu, inaugurated the finale and praised the students for developing technology-driven solutions to societal challenges. He said, “These young White Hats are not just coding apps, they are coding solutions for our society,” adding that such platforms advance the vision of bringing responsible AI and grassroots innovation into classrooms. 

Rtn. Balakrishna S., President, Rotary Club of Madras and Guest of Honour, appreciated the students’ civic-minded problem-solving and reaffirmed Rotary’s commitment to youth empowerment. 

Mrs. BKK Pillai, Chairperson, Vailankanni Group of Schools, highlighted the institution’s focus on experiential learning and future-ready skills. Mr. K. T. Pillai, Secretary, led the transformation of the school’s 3,000 sq. ft. auditorium into a high-density technology lab with advanced power, network and ergonomic facilities. 

The event concluded with a public exhibition and recognition of the state champions, celebrating innovation and young talent.

****