National Cyber Security Competitions Open to Wake County High School Students
Sept. 22, 2011 - Wake County’s computer-savvy high school students have the opportunity to put their hacking skills to the test this fall in a series of national online cyber security competitions.The competitions are designed to find students interested in computer science and inspire them toward careers in cyber security or other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines critical to our nation’s future.
Sponsored by U.S. Cyber Challenge (USCC), the semi-annual Cyber Foundations competition is the entry-level competition in a series of increasingly challenging contests. The Cyber Foundations competition focuses on the three foundational skills necessary for anyone looking to become a skilled cyber security professional: networking, operating systems, and system administration. No prior computer knowledge is necessary to participate. Students receive training materials as part of the competition. The deadline to register for the Cyber Foundations competition is Sept. 30.
The CyberPatriot IV competition, presented by Northrop Grumman, is the premiere national high school cyber defense competition. This is an advanced competition in which students must defend, manage and update a live system while detecting and fending off system attacks. The deadline to register for the CyberPatriot IV competition is Oct. 8.
Eric Hoth, the Information Security Officer for the Wake County Public School System, is working to get the word out to high school students and community volunteers about these competitions.
“These competitions help prepare students for job and scholarship opportunities that exist today,” he said. “Participating students are excited, engaged, and they find a sense of purpose within their school. We really need volunteers from the community to serve as mentors who can provide guidance and answers to technical questions as these students prepare for the competitions.”
Hoth said students who participate in the competitions get hands-on experience troubleshooting cyber threats and learn valuable knowledge that emphasizes STEM concepts.
“Both of these competitions provide scenarios that allow students to decide for themselves what they believe are the best way to ward off an attack,” he said. “The Cyber Foundations competition accomplishes this with academic theory while the CyberPatriot IVcompetition allows students to manage real systems against live attacks.”
Top performers win prizes and are eligible for awards and scholarships. Last year, WCPSS had student teams from Enloe Magnet High, Green Hope High and Panther Creek High and individual students from other Wake County high schools participate in the Cyber Foundations competition. Wake County students placed in the top 10 in the nation in each round of the competition.
For further information about competing or serving as a mentor, contact Eric Hoth at 919-431-7071.
Additional Links:
Cyber Foundations Competition: www.uscyberchallenge.org/competitions-camps/cyber-foundations/registration/index.cfm
CyberPatriot IV Competition: www.uscyberpatriot.org.