The Maryvale Cyber Team participated in the 2024 General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) Cyber Hackathon on Thursday, December 12, 2024. This annual all-day, hybrid Hackathon event had teams from across the nation engage in a capture-the-flag-like competition to practice investigation and analysis skills while working through various hands-on cybersecurity exercises.
There were twelve in-person teams and sixteen virtual teams competing. The teams were made up of GDIT employees, cyber professionals from government agencies, and students from George Mason University, Penn State, and William & Mary.
Lauren T. '26 and Kaya S. '26, pictured above, represented Maryvale. Lauren said, "It was very interesting to see how cyber tools worked in the real world."
Maryvale students gained valuable experience and skills through engaging in different threat scenarios. They learned how to investigate and respond to advanced threat actors, worked as an effective team to complete various cybersecurity challenges, and discovered innovations in cybersecurity technologies.
"I am so proud of our cyber team students. They competed mostly against college teams, and they persevered. They never gave up and they learned so many valuable cyber skills," Mr. K shared. George Kapusinski is the Cyber Team Moderator, a technology teacher, and the Assistant Director of the Patricia. J. Mitchell '65 Leadership Institute.
