LHS Student Second In State In Cyber Safety Contest

Lakewood High School sophomore Matt Kerrigan may have a bright future in cyber security. Kerrigan recently competed in the national Cyber Foundation's competition sponsored by U.S. Cyber Challenge (USCC) and finished 18th in the nation and second in Ohio out of more than 2,000 students nationwide.

USCC’s Foundations contest included 2,034 students from 169 schools, 32 states and three U.S. territories. The online competition, conducted in collaboration with the SANS Institute, features a series of quizzes in the most important foundational fields of cyber security: networking, operating systems, and system administration. The top scoring students in each school and state will earn recognition and awards for their achievements. Those with an interest and aptitude may go on to pursue a career in cyber security and help fill the critical gap in the national cyber workforce.

Cyber Foundation's participants are provided with on-line tutorials and video education materials on the three foundational fields, after which they take quizzes that allow them to demonstrate mastery. Each topic has a separate set of materials and a separate test. The quizzes were given in late October and November.

Kerrigan, who says he gets his technology savvy from being around his dad’s computer business all his life, will receive an engraved trophy for placing 2nd in Ohio and an engraved award for placing 1st at LHS.

Seven other LHS students received honorable mention in the contest for placing in the top 500 nationally: Ian Malin (83rd), Kenneth Grubaugh (113th), Christian Ulsenheimer-Welki  (218th), Nabih Metri (269th), Albi Mema (303rd), Zach Gilchrist (313th) and Irfan Khan (430th).

The mission of the U.S. Cyber Challenge (USCC), a division of the Center for Internet Security, is to identify, recruit and place the next generation of cyber security professionals. USCC's goal is to find 10,000 of America's best and brightest to fill the ranks of cyber security professionals where their skills can be of the greatest value to the nation.

This was the first time LHS participated in this competition. After seeing the reaction of the students, Terese Chevalier said she will definitely have students participate again next year. Chevalier teaches the Networking/Cisco program in the West-Shore Career Technical District.

“It was a great learning experience and gave our students a chance to compete nationally,” she said.

For Kerrigan’s part, he’s looking forward to trying the contest again in the spring when it’s offered. “I know I can do better on that third quiz,” he said. Kerrigan, who said he became interested in Internet security and hacking in middle school, appreciates that the contest gives him “a safe environment where you can prove your skills in (cyber security).”