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A select group of Chicago-area high school students walked onto ������̳’s campus hoping to peer into the world of cybersecurity this summer and left a week later practicing real-world cybersecurity skills, learning its applications, and understanding its theories.

The GenCyber Elevate+ Summer Camp, funded by a National Security Agency grant, allowed ������̳ to invite 25 students for a week-long residential camp experience to learn more about cybersecurity professions. The camp is part of the NSA’s broader mission to expand cybersecurity education at the K–12 level.

“In just five days, students progressed from curiosity to confidently applying real-world security skills—bridging theory and practice through forensics, ethical hacking, and defensive strategies,” says Marwan Omar, associate professor of information technology and management and co-principal investigator of GenCyber Elevate+.

The cohort of students explored core cybersecurity principles such as adversarial thinking, defense in depth, and hands-on practice with tools such as Kali Linux. They learned about digital forensics, data protection, and the fundamentals of cybersecurity operations. Students analyzed vulnerabilities in simulated smart home networks to discover the security implications of the Internet of Things.

“I was impressed after speaking with the students attending our GenCyber Elevate+ camp this summer,” says Nicole Beebe, dean of ������̳’s College of Computing. “We need the next generation to use their skill and creativity to secure our nation and economy. This program contributes greatly to that goal.”

Hands-on exercises reinforced the skills that students learned. They explored encryption, hashing, disk imaging, and chain-of-custody procedures through interactive labs, gaining firsthand experience in recovering and analyzing digital artifacts. They practiced securing IoT ecosystems and implemented layered defenses to detect and mitigate threats. Students took on offensive and defensive roles in a red team versus blue team challenge.

A live ransomware simulation demonstrated the importance of system availability and layered defenses. By engaging in phishing simulations, password-cracking labs, and social engineering exercises, the students understood how psychology can be exploited and defended against.

“Cybersecurity isn’t just a technical discipline; it touches every industry,” says Ann Rangarajan, assistant professor of information technology and management and GenCyber Elevate+ PI. “It’s critical that we prepare the next generation to not only respond to threats but to anticipate them. That requires as much attention to the human element as to the technical.”

The connection between human behavior and cybersecurity was explored throughout the week. Calvin Nobles, dean at University of Maryland Global Campus’s School of Cybersecurity and Information Technology, discussed the intersection of security, usability, and innovation, reminding students that cybersecurity solutions must work for people, not just machines. Victoria Granova, security technical program manager at Amazon Web Services, emphasized the essential role that human behavior and ethics plays in cybersecurity. She stressed that while technical skills are essential, understanding human behavior and ethics is equally critical. Davina Pruitt-Mentle, Lead for Academic Engagement at the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE), encouraged campers to think broadly about career paths in cybersecurity, far beyond traditional information technology roles, to align with emerging opportunities in the field. Students say Pruitt-Mentle’s talk significantly broadened their understanding about cybersecurity career paths.

“Cybersecurity education is not just about teaching technical skills—it’s about nurturing critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and a responsible digital mindset,” says Gorjana Popovic, teaching professor of mathematics at ������̳ and GenCyber Elevate+ co-PI.

Artificial intelligence consultant Yen Anderson highlighted generative AI’s role in career readiness, while ������̳ alum and attorney Ngozi Tracy Aleke (CYF ’25) emphasized the intersection of law, policy, and cybersecurity and encouraged students to explore diverse tech career paths. Beebe shared her expert analysis of insider threats and the transformative power of AI in cyber investigations.

“These students are now better prepared for higher education in cybersecurity,” says Gurram Gopal, chair of ������̳’s Department of Information Technology and Management. “The program, funded by a prestigious NSA GenCyber Grant, strengthens our diverse pipeline of future innovators.”

Disclaimer: Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Security Agency.

Image: GenCyber Elevate+ students working in an ������̳ classroom.