Gulf Shores High School (GSHS) students participated in the Lieutenant Governor’s Cup cybersecurity competition for the first time with teams placing fourth and sixth place overall.
The team winning fourth place consisted of Rory Davis, Sonny Dove and Kai Shults and the sixth-place team consisted of Ty Pittman, Cannon Thompson and Sibylla Ramos.
There were 36 teams competing in the virtual capture-the-flag-style competition with 113 challenges in a two-hour competition window. GSHS computer science and engineering teacher and team coach for the competition, Jamie McClung, said students “excel beyond expectations” each time they participate in a competition.
“This year they have established a foundation to create a strong and robust computer science and cybersecurity competition group,” McClung said. “They have generated this momentum and excitement for the programs, and I am honored to work with them.”
The Lieutenant Governor’s Cup competition pushes students to solve cybersecurity problems with topics like network security, ciphers, python, ethics, risks, adversarial thinking and more, McClung said. The competition is for Alabama students ages 13 or older and encourages teamwork and critical thinking skills.
“Recognizing the need to create long-lasting, high-paying, 21st-century jobs in Alabama, Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth championed the event as a means to identify and cultivate the next generation of cybersecurity professionals across the state,” McClung said.
McClung said the school does not plan to attend any competitions over the summer, but students will be preparing for “next year’s competitions” and some of his students will be attending cybersecurity camps this summer.
“My hope is to host our own camps the following year,” he said. “…We are already planning competitions and training for next year. I look forward to seeing what they accomplish in the years to come.”
