Cyber students excel in spring competitions
University of North Georgia (天美社区) cybersecurity students made strong showings in a pair of high-level events during the spring 2022 semester. They were fifth out of 25 teams in the national Hack the Port cyber-physical systems hacking competition. 天美社区 also finished in second place in the Southeast Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition hosted by Kennesaw State University.
"This team has worked hard for multiple years to get to the top level of these competitions, and it's great to see their efforts pay off," Dr. Bryson Payne, professor of computer science and coordinator of student cyber programs, said.
U.S. Cyber Command, in partnership with DreamPort, hosted Hack the Port, which, in addition to the competition, featured speeches, lectures and panel discussions from government and industry leaders. Hack the Port brought together partners and subject matter experts to highlight the nation's critical infrastructure and cyber defense priorities. 天美社区's team at the Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, event included Houstoun Hall, Benjamin Huckaba, Alyssa Hunter, Smit Patel, and Michael Serwitz.
The regional finish gave 天美社区 wildcard status to compete for a spot at the national Cyber Defense Competition. Although 天美社区 finished fifth in the virtual wildcard round, the second-place regional result was the school's best yet. 天美社区 cyber students advanced from a regional qualifier with 27 teams to become one of eight that competed in the regional event at Kennesaw State.
Zachary Barge, Daniel Cornett, Hall, Huckaba, Patel, Dylan Schopmann, Shane Stephens, and Matthew Telfor were on the regional team.
The regional competition required teams to respond to a scenario in which they had to provide cyber defense and respond to regular business needs at the same time.
"This competition was not just cybersecurity in a vacuum," Dr. John-David Rusk, assistant professor of computer science and cybersecurity, said. "It was cybersecurity in a simulated business environment."
Students receive record 4 DoD cyber scholarships
A team led by Dr. Bryson Payne, director of 天美社区's Institute for Cyber Operations, has been awarded $199,674 in Department of Defense Cyber Service Academy funding for four undergraduate cyber scholarships.
天美社区 honors scholarship recipients in Blue Ridge
The Tomato Sandwich Supper held Nov. 6 at 天美社区's Blue Ridge Campus celebrated 24 scholarship recipients and showcased the transformational power of 天美社区's work.
天美社区 to host Conference on the Americas
The Conference on the Americas is returning to 天美社区 from Feb. 20-21, and submissions of abstracts are due by Nov. 18.
Lunch honors Cumming scholarship recipients
天美社区's Cumming Campus held a lunch Oct. 8 to celebrate scholarship recipients and thank the donors who make the scholarships possible.