Capitol College Cyber Team to Compete at MDC3 Cyber Challenge

 

Contact: Kyle Anderson Marketing & Communications Coordinator 301-369-2800, ext. 3015 kdanderson@capitol-college.edu

 

LAUREL, MD (October 10, 2011) – Capitol College is pleased to announce that six students from Capitol’s Cyber Battle Lab (CBL) have qualified for the Maryland Cyber Challenge and Conference (MDC3) to be held Saturday, Oct. 22 at the Baltimore Convention Center.

 

The competition will test the critical thinking skills of the students and put their cybersecurity skills to the ultimate test. The students will rely on the information and skills they have gained in the CBL, through Capitol’s information assurance curriculum and through their own individual research.

 

“Participating in challenges, such as the MDC3, provides an excellent learning experience for our students,” Dr. Vic Maconachy, vice president for academic affairs, said “Regardless of the outcome, students consistently report that participating in such events enhances and sharpens their cybersecurity skills. We, at Capitol, are proud of our team and the team mentors.”

 

MDC3 also offers great prizes for its finalists, including $84,000 worth of combined scholarships funded by the National Security Agency. Each member of the first-place team will receive a $5,000 scholarship, and a full-time job opportunity with SAIC is also available. Each member of the second-place team will receive a $2,000 scholarship.

 

This is the second major competition for the Capitol’s Cyber Team this year, as they competed in the Mid-Atlantic regional finals of the Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition this past March. At the event, Capitol students were able to show off their knowledge of cybersecurity while also networking and speaking with industry professionals.

 

Capitol’s team has honed its cybersecurity skills in the innovative CBL, where students simulate, detect, analyze and defeat cyber attacks. The lab provides students with the hands-on experience they will need when they hit the workforce and start defeating real-life cyber threats. As cybersecurity moves to the forefront of industry’s needs, Capitol’s CBL has become an effective resource.

 

Capitol College is a DHS/NSA nationally designated Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education. The institution offers a bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate in information assurance.

 

Capitol College is the only independent college in Maryland dedicated to education in engineering, computer science, information technology and business through practices of leadership and innovation. Founded in 1927, Capitol offers associate, bachelor’s and master's degrees, a Doctor of Science in Information Assurance, professional development training and certificates. Academic programs are grounded in centers of excellence; these include the Space Operations Institute, the Critical Infrastructures and Cyber Protection Center, the Innovation and Leadership Institute, and the Center for Space Science Education and Public Outreach. The college campus is located in Laurel, Maryland, a suburban setting midway between Baltimore and Washington, DC. www.capitol-college.edu.