Montana Tech, Highlands College students take third place in National Collegiate Cyber Defense Regional Competition

Students studying computer networks and cybersecurity at Montana Technological University and Highlands College took third place in the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Regional Competition held March 1-2, 2025.

Participants included: Yen Fan, Avery Anderson, Garrett Pruttis, Ken Curran, Morgan Hendrickson, Tyce Erickson, and Konner Ferguson. The team was supported by Instructor Jason Rackham. The competition pits teams against cybersecurity professionals who create a scenario where the students represent a fictional company under active attack by cybercriminals.

“They're professional hackers that work against you,” Pruttis, a senior from Chinook, said.  “The competition takes two eight-hour days over the weekend. The first day, they're just trying to implement their hacks into your environment. Then, on the second day, they start executing rules and trying to bring down your services.”

The simulated attack is a rare opportunity for students to connect all of their skills and education in a team environment similar to what might be seen on an actual jobsite.

“It's important that students do competitions like this because it really helps us out with understanding how all things work together in cybersecurity and computer networking,” Pruttis, a senior from Chinook, said. “Our classwork ties in pretty heavily with the challenges you see in the competition, however, the course material becomes more relevant in senior and junior level classes where it's more than just the basics. The competition allows you to see what the overall infrastructure looks like, a lot more than you ever would in class.”

Yen Fan, a senior from Three Forks, says the two-day experience was invaluable.

“The two days provided the most intense, hands-on learning I’ve ever experienced,” Fan said. “I learned more in those two days than I could have in a month of classes. They try to do really fun and high-level exploits. They’re so good that no matter what you do, they're going to find a way in.”

The competitors are from major universities across the U.S. Montana Tech students have competed over the past few years, and recently established the Cybersecurity Club to help focus efforts for future competitions, as well as additional opportunities for professional development. Anyone with interest in joining can reach out to Pruttis at gpruttis@mtech.edu.