Information Networking and Telecommunications team first at cyber defense competition

Members of the UNK Information Networking and Telecommunications team that placed first at the North Central Regional Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition are, left to right: Coach Angela Hollman, Devin McIntyre, Olivier Avande, Nery Cabrera, Jesus Moreno, Doug Perez and Michael Odell.

By TODD GOTTULA
UNK Communications

KEARNEY – The UNK Information Networking and Telecommunications team won top honors at the North Central Regional Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition.

The six-student University of Nebraska at Kearney team competed in the hacking/security competition March 5-7 in Madison, S.D.

UNK placed first in the technical category and scored second in business injects to win first place overall.

The competition consisted of 50 percent business injects – where business tasks were assigned to the team – and 50 percent technical, where students defended their network against hackers.

UNK won an all-expense paid trip to San Antonio, where it will compete April 24-26 in the national CCDC competition.

“We were excited because this was our first year entering the competition, and we had no expectations,” said coach Angela Hollman, assistant professor of industrial technology. “My attitude going in was for the students to have fun and learn as much as they could.

“The students maintained a calm, collected demeanor throughout the competition and had excellent collaboration and communication skills,” Hollman added.

All six UNK team members were recruited through the Information Networking and Telecom program, where they are either INT majors or minors.

Team members, listed by hometown, include:
Alliance – Michael Odell
Lexington – Nery Cabrera, Jesus Moreno
Odell – Devin McIntyre
Los Angeles – Doug Perez
Benin, West Africa – Olivier Avande

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Writer: Todd Gottula, Director of Communications, 308.865.8454, gottulatm@unk.edu
Contact: Angela Hollman, Information Networking & Telecommunications, 308.865.8718

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