Rising Cyberstars: RCC Students Dominate National Cybersecurity Battles

At a glance

• Rensselaer Cybersecurity Collaboratory (RCC) students placed in two national competitions this academic year, according to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).
• A four-person team placed 10th at UConn’s CyberSEED tournament in March 2025 and won a $250 prize.
• Another RCC team won first place at the University of North Dakota’s Cyber Hawks CTF in October 2024.
• The results put RPI among the colleges with strong student cyber competition teams.

Two strong results in capture-the-flag events

Students from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Rensselaer Cybersecurity Collaboratory (RCC) have posted strong results in national capture-the-flag (CTF) competitions this year. RPI announced the results on March 14, 2025.

In March, four RCC students, Stephen Wright, Ryan Hickey, Siddiq Mohaideen and Taylor Mull, placed 10th in the University of Connecticut’s CyberSEED tournament, earning a $250 cash prize. In October, a team of Bulmaro Nava-Camal, Adam Todd and Devin Ross took first place at the University of North Dakota’s Cyber Hawks CTF, held at the IEEE Cyber Awareness and Research Symposium.

What the competitions test

CTF competitions test practical skills. Teams solve problems involving security protocols, cryptography and hacking techniques under time pressure. Students have to apply what they know to realistic scenarios, which is close to what security jobs require.

Events like CyberSEED draw teams from across the country, so a top-10 finish means beating many of them.

Training at the RCC

The RCC is led by Brian Callahan, an RPI senior lecturer and the collaboratory’s director. Students train together and compete as teams, which builds the teamwork these events reward.

Practice and peer support matter in CTFs. Teams that have worked together before divide problems faster and cover each other’s gaps.

Callahan praised the students’ dedication. “Our teams consistently demonstrate the high level of skill and teamwork that sets them apart in national competitions,” he said.

Why student competitions matter

Competitions give students hands-on practice that classes alone can’t provide, and employers pay attention to strong finishers.

Demand for skilled security workers remains high. Students who have competed come to interviews with real problem-solving experience.

What comes next for the RCC

RPI says the RCC plans to build on these results in future events and keep training students for security careers.

For other colleges, the takeaway is simple: give students a place to practice together and a calendar of competitions to enter.

Fred Templeton, CISA, CASP, SEC+

Fred Templeton is a practicing Information Systems Auditor in the Washington DC area. Fred works as a government contractor and uses his skills in cyber security to make our country's information systems safer from cyber threats. Fred holds a master's degree in cybersecurity and is currently working on his PHD in Information Systems.