Stratford CyberPatriot teams win 1st place awards in State Gold and Silver Tiers
February 29, 2016
Two teams of high school students from Stratford High School in Goose Creek, SC, recently concluded an exceptional round of competition in the eighth season of CyberPatriot – the National Youth Cyber Defense Competition.
Established by the Air Force Association, the CyberPatriot National Youth Cyber Education Program was created to excite, educate, and motivate students to explore careers in cyber security and other science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines critical to our nation’s future.
CyberPatriot’s core program – the National Youth Cyber Defense Competition – challenges teams of two to six students across the United States, Canada, and from DoDD schools abroad, to find and resolve cybersecurity vulnerabilities in simulated environments. Top teams from the preliminary online rounds win an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC, for the live National Finals Competition, where students compete for national recognition and scholarships.
The CyberPatriot field is divided into three divisions – the Open Division for public, private, and home school teams, the All Service Division for JROTC, Civil Air Patrol, and Naval Sea Cadet Corps teams, and the Middle School Division. Based on the results of two preliminary rounds, CyberPatriot VIII high school teams were categorized within their divisions as Platinum, Gold, or Silver Tier teams, with Platinum Tier teams representing the highest scoring teams.
More than 1,800 teams competed in CyberPatriot VIII, including 56 teams from South Carolina.
Led by Coach Michael Eason, teams from Stratford excelled in the CyberPatriot VIII State Round held January 30, demonstrating teamwork, critical thinking skills, and technical knowledge key to a successful career in cybersecurity. Stratford’s Open Division, Gold Tier team earned 1st Place in the state in its tier. Stratford’s Open Division, Silver Tier team earned 1st Place in the state in its tier. Both Open Division teams earned spots in the Regional Round on February 20. Stratford’s Army JROTC Team, competing in the All Service Division Platinum Tier, also advanced to the next round in their tier.
Stratford’s Open Division, Gold Tier team includes Austin Riddick (captain), James Lin, Charles Ritter, and Josh Smith. Stratford’s Open Division, Silver Tier team includes Elizabeth Ruff (captain), Danielle Di Pace, and Lizeth Santiago. Stratford’s Army JROTC, All Service Division, Platinum Tier team includes Noah Hofmann (captain), Ralph Bollig, Greg Dempsey, Alston Farias, Christian Mellichamp, and Michael Magill.
A fourth Stratford team, also competing in the Open Division, Silver Tier, finished 4th in that tier, just missing the cut for advancement to the Regional Round by one spot.
“These competitions are grueling, each one lasting six hours,” said Coach Eason, adding, “I am proud of all four teams.” Stratford’s team members are known as Cyber Knights and are members of the school computer club. They practice and study cyber security topics two days a week, two hours each day, after school.
Stratford’s Cyber Knights will compete in two additional competitions this spring, the NodeSC Capture the Flag Competition at College of Charleston on March 12, and the Palmetto Cyber Defense Competition at Trident Technical College on April 9.
The Air Force Association is a non-profit, independent, professional military and aerospace education association. Our mission is to promote a dominant United States Air Force and a strong national defense, and to honor Airmen and our Air Force Heritage.
For more information on the Air Force Association, please contact Lyndsey Akersat [email protected] or call (703) 247-5847.
