The three-hour Oct. 24 event marked the fourth annual “CyberKnights Showdown” hosted by the college.
Students from Chatham, Tunstall, Gretna and Dan River high schools competed in two-person teams in what was described as a “capture-the-flag-style event.”
“Events like the CyberKnights Showdown exemplify what community colleges do best, connecting education to opportunity,” DCC President Cornelius Johnson said in a statement. “When students walk into this competition, they’re not just solving digital puzzles, they’re unlocking their potential and discovering that their skills can change the world.”
Cybersecurity is basically protecting computer systems from digital attacks. Some of those include something called ransomware, where culprits gain access to a large computer network and lock users out, until either a ransom is paid or technicians restore the system.
The categories included highly technical things like open source intelligence gathering, forensic analysis, web exploitation, steganography, cryptography, network traffic analysis, reverse engineering and encryption.
“The CyberKnights Showdown is an opportunity for students to see themselves as innovators, problem solvers, and future leaders in a critical global industry,” DeAndre Howard, vice president of academic affairs and student services, wrote in a statement.
The high school students continue to improve year after year, said Melissa Mann, dean of career and technical education.
“Their curiosity, creativity and teamwork remind us why events like this matter,” she wrote in a news release. “It takes incredible collaboration between our educators, partners and sponsors to make this happen and it’s all worth it when you see their excitement and pride.”
Steve Carrigan, assistant professor of information technology and director of the Cyber Center of Excellence, said the field is constantly changing.
“Our goal is to help students realize that the skills they’re developing today can lead to meaningful, high-demand careers right here in Southern Virginia and beyond,” he said.
Learn more online at www.danville.edu.
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