Cybersecurity at Shadow Ridge High School is taking a hands-on approach through CyberPatriot, a national competition that challenges students to identify and fix vulnerabilities in computer systems. In the classroom, students train using real tools and simulated systems, building skills that connect directly to future careers in technology and cybersecurity.
Through structured practice, team-based problem solving, and competitive rounds, students gradually develop the technical knowledge needed to succeed both in the competition and beyond the classroom.
Cyber Security Teacher Lloyd Mann stated, “My Cyber One students practice during class at the beginning of the year as they participate in the practice rounds of Cyber Patriot and try to score as many points as possible on all three images and learn how to run VMWare and load images. They also learn the rules of the competition by doing assignments on what Cyber Patriot is and how it works. My more advanced students are filling out their portfolio of skills as they do assignments that help them learn about more advanced topics.“
When the competition comes around, the classroom transforms into a competitive environment where teamwork, communication, and quick decision-making are essential. As students divide into teams and take on specific roles, they learn to manage real-time challenges while tracking their progress against schools across the country on a national scoreboard.
He continued, “We generally have seven or eight teams in the rooms we are using. Each team has five people on the team. There is a national scoreboard that is on the big screen at the front of the room. Each team is talking amongst themselves as they try to solve the vulnerabilities in the images to score points.”
The competition pushes students to think quickly and work under pressure. This shows the long-term commitment needed to succeed in this competition. While teamwork and strategy play a huge role during the competition, building the skills needed takes time, practice, and dedication.
“The hardest part of the competition is getting the knowledge and experience to be a high level competitor. The best competitors are the ones who have taken my class across multiple years and learned the skills that they need to be good at what they do.”
As cyberpatriot continues to challenge students and build real world cybersecurity skills, it offers opportunities for growth and collaboration. The program is just the beginning of a deeper interest in cybersecurity and technology, setting students up for success long after the competition.
