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1st and 2nd Place JOLT Cyber Challenge Teams and Competitive Game Makers
Two U of A cybersecurity teams competed in and won the JOLT Cyber Challenge in Little Rock.
Over the weekend of October 7-9, the Department of Computer Science and Computer Engineering sponsored two groups of students traveling to the Jack Stevens Center at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock to participate in this “grab the flag” style cybersecurity competition. I participated.
Student group CyberHogs sponsored student registration for the competition. Chris Wright, a longtime JOLT game creator, computer science graduate, and member of the U of A Academy of Computer Science and Computer Engineering, invited U of A students to participate in the competition.
Participants in the JOLT Cyber Challenge ranged from high school competitors to industry professionals and everyone in between. Countless companies participated not only to network, but to compete. The competition was Alice in Wonderland themed and used quotes as flags for teams to find.
Computer Science Sr. Austin Flynn, Sophomore Luke Simmons, Sophomore Alex Prosser, and Junior Zachary Harris were all new to the competition, placing second overall and winning $500. Going into the competition, the students didn’t know what to expect.
“Being surrounded by industry leaders with advanced desktop settings and having nothing but a laptop, it was kind of scary,” says Flynn.
However, this did not discourage them. “Students who enter this competition really stand up and are fierce competitors because we are in an environment where we are always trying to learn on the fly. JOLT unlocks the ability to absorb and use information quickly.It’s the best way to go,” he continued.
Karsen Beck, Mitchell Bylak, Katie Kettler and Henry Schmidt teamed up for first place overall for $1,000. They set the record for most points scored in his JOLT competition, surpassing 20,000 points.
“It was really great that we all worked together so well. If I had a problem, I could ask my teammates. They were really supportive,” Kettler said. .
The competition was not only about testing existing knowledge and skills, but also about learning new skills. According to Bylak, Kettler, Harris and Prosser, the experience the competition brings is one of the most empowering.
“It was really cool that the assignment required prior knowledge, but there was more to learn while there. It’s not just a test of knowledge, it’s also a test of ability to learn. I went in without knowing it and felt like I learned about cybersecurity and improved my technical skills for a semester,” Bylak said.
“It was something I had never done before. I had never tried to take apart malware, but I taught myself the process. I know what it is and I’m kind of stuck so they were more than happy to help,” Harris added.
“Everyone was really friendly,” Simmons said. It’s a big breakthrough that makes me very happy.”
The problem was not just a hoax, it was also a fantasy scenario.
“It gave me real-world experience,” Prosser said. “One of the malware problems I solved was taken from a real email virus.”
This contest was new to most students, but not Beck. The 2022 JOLT Cyber Challenge was Beck’s fourth win and second in a row. In the future, Beck will only be allowed to return to competition as a game maker creating challenges for new teams.
“Every time we did this, it was done in a different location. There were more people this year, so it felt like there was more activity and more energy. It was really tough and better competition because we were fighting the U of A team,” Beck said.
Both teams left the competition with newfound network connections and camaraderie. They see each other as friends and hope to compete together in future competitions.
“It was really fun because we all got to hang out outside of school and conferences,” Bylak said.
“It’s been great to bond with all of us. I feel closer to all my teammates after this!” added Kettler.
When asked if he would encourage other students interested in cybersecurity to participate in such a competition, the answer was unanimous. The contest is designed to be enjoyed by people of all backgrounds.
“It’s a lot of fun for everyone, even if they don’t know what they’re doing,” Beck said. “There are a lot of people out there to help you. You’re never stuck and going nowhere because you have supporters to help you learn through it. It’s a great experience.”
Kettler said of the contest’s diversity: Because it’s a lot of fun. “
Chris Farnell is a Managing Director and Test Engineer for the U of A Department of Electrical Engineering’s National Center for Reliable Electric Power Transmission (NCREPT) and CyberHogs Mentor. He joined the trip to Little Rock for support.
“It was great to see our students competing and collaborating with other schools and various industry associations participating in JOLT. We believe many meaningful connections were made during this competition. I am looking forward to participating again next year,” Farnell said.
Overall, the 2022 JOLT Cyber Challenge was a huge success for U of A students who represented the university brilliantly.
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