High school team from Plymouth-Canton takes top spot in Cybersecurity Challenge
Novi, Mich. -- The Michigan Cyber Summit convened more than 700 cybersecurity experts today to collaborate on solutions to protect businesses and individuals from the ever-present digital security concerns that threaten Michigander’s way of life. The summit is the signature event of Michigan Cybersecurity Awareness Month, held each year in October.
“The information shared and connections made at this year’s Michigan Cyber Summit make our state a safer place,” said State Chief Information Officer (CIO) Laura Clark. “It was energizing to see so many experts from information technology, from both the public and private sectors, come together to develop solutions to our common problems. With so much of our daily lives dependent on digital interactions, it is critical that we come together at events like this to keep our information and digital spaces safe.”
Cybersecurity experts from around the country joined the virtual event, including Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA); U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee; Laura Clark, CIO with the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB); Chris DeRusha, chief information security officer with the Office of Management and Budget and deputy national cyber director for federal cybersecurity with the Office of the National Cyber Director; Doug Robinson, executive director from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers; and numerous other information technology and cyber experts.
The Michigan Cyber Summit also continued the tradition of highlighting the skills needed to fill the growing demand for cybersecurity talent by announcing the winners of the seventh annual Governor's High School Cyber Challenge and the CyberPatriot competitions.
A total of 208 teams, consisting of 568 students from 29 schools across Michigan, participated in the challenge. The top 10 teams competed in the final round of the competition today at the summit. The final-round teams hailed from the following schools:
- Kalamazoo Area Mathematics and Science Center
- Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
- Ann Arbor Huron High School
- Gull Lake High School
- Seaholm High School
- Churchill High School
- Newaygo County Career Tech Center
Taking first place in the competition were Mengxiange Shi, David Reeves, and Jacob Eason from Plymouth-Canton Community Schools, with coach Scott Obsniuk.
Second place went to Park Frazer, Jaydon Scott, and Soham Patel from Plymouth-Canton Community Schools, with coach Scott Obsniuk.
Taking third place were David Shen, Jason Shaye, and Maximillan Martin from Kalamazoo Area Mathematics & Science Center, with coach Shannon Houtrouw.
The Governor's High School Cyber Challenge is run and facilitated by Merit Network and the Michigan Cyber Range, in partnership with the State of Michigan.
Also at the summit, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II recognized Michigan students who participated in the CyberPatriot competitions. This year, 149 Michigan teams of middle and high school students competed against 4,400 students from across the nation in the Virtual CyberPatriot program. Three teams took the top spots in the Michigan CyberPatriot competition.
Taking first place in the high school open division were students Evan Deboer, Cameron Marquardt, Cole Ingleright, and Brady Johnston, with coaches Jeremy Houser and Noah Helsel, from Wexford-Missaukee Career Technical Center, Cadillac.
Placing first in the all services division for the second year in a row were students Clara Ballard, Daniel Phelka, Adam VanderMolen, Ryan Kersten, and Calvin Pham, with coach Capt. Matt Roberts, from Maj. Kevin A. Adams Memorial Composite Squadron, Ann Arbor.
Placing first in the middle school division were Samuel Cai, Anna Wu, Daniel Xie, Zhitao Yap, and Joshua You, with coach Cai Yu, from Houghton Middle School, Houghton.
Governor's High School Cyber Challenge
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1st Place - Plymouth-Canton Community SchoolsLeft to right: Michigan CIO Laura Clark, Mengxiange Shi, David Reeves, Jacob Eason, and Acting DTMB Director Michelle Lange |
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2nd Place - Plymouth-Canton Community SchoolsLeft to right: Michigan CIO Laura Clark, Park Frazer, Jaydon Scott, Soham Patel, and Acting DTMB Director Michelle Lange |
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3rd Place - Kalamazoo Area Mathematics & Science CenterLeft to right: Michigan CIO Laura Clark, David Shen, Jason Shaye, Maximillan Martin, and Acting DTMB Director Michelle Lange |
CyberPatriot
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1st Place High School Open Division - Wexfor-Missaukee Career Technical CenterLeft to right: John Partridge (coach), Evan Deboer, Cameron Marquart, Cole Ingleright, Brady Johnston, Noah Helsel (coach) not pictured |
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1st Place All Services Division - Maj. Kevin A. Adams Memorial Composite SquadronLeft to right: Clara Ballard, Daniel Phelka, Adam VanderMolen, Ryan Kersten, Calvin Pham, and Capt. Matt Roberts (coach) not pictured |
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1st Place Middle School Division - Houghton Middle SchoolFront row from left to right: Samuel Cai, Zhitao Yap, and Yu Cai (coach)Back row from left to right: Joshua You, Daniel Xie, and Anna Wu |
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