Casper College team participating in the MAGIC October 19, 2024 Cybersecurity Puzzle Challenge.
Building Student Skills
MAGIC Capture the Flag Cybersecurity Puzzle Challenge
Five Wyoming school teams participated in the MAGIC Capture the Flag Cybersecurity Puzzle Challenge on October 19, 2024, with the top-ranking Casper College Thunderbytes team taking sixth place.
Sponsored by the Wyoming Department of Education, CTE Division, and the CyberWyoming Alliance, this event showcased problem solving, cybersecurity, and tech skills from students across Wyoming.
Nationwide, twenty-two teams and 88 participants joined the puzzle challenge. Participating schools included Casper College, Wyoming Indian High School, and Meeteetse Schools. With the exception of the Casper College Thunderbytes who received their personal best ranking at 6th place, most teams were newcomers to the challenge.
Rankings:
- Casper College, team name Thunderbytes – 6th
- Meeteetse Schools, team name Doofenshmirtz – 18th
- Casper College, team name GigaBirdz –19th
- Meeteetse Schools, 2nd Team – 18th
- Wyoming Indian High School – 22nd
“The experienced Thunderbytes team did really well, with an all-time Casper College high score. They ended up sixth. My new GigaBirdz team decided to basically work as a team on all the questions (none of them had done CTF before), so they moved slower, but really enjoyed the experience and were scoring points right up to the end of the game. Everyone is already looking forward to the spring event,” said Charlotte Gruner of Casper College. MAGIC usually has the event in mid-April each spring.
All student participants received T-shirts courtesy of MAGIC. Additionally, the registration fees for the event were covered by the Wyoming Department of Education, CTE Division. CyberWyoming Alliance provided pizza for all participants fueling participants’ energy throughout the challenge. This year, a new supporter, Papa Johns, provided a pizza donation for the Casper team.
Gruner noted that the students thanked Papa Johns, the Wyoming Department of Education, and CyberWyoming Alliance.
“CyberWyoming Alliance recognizes the importance of such events in nurturing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals and is committed to supporting initiatives that promote skill-building and community engagement,” said Laura Baker, CyberWyoming Alliance Board President Emerita.
CyberWyoming Alliance applauds the success of the recent challenge and extends its congratulations to all participants and organizers. With ongoing support from fundraising through WyoGives and collaboration with other organizations, initiatives like the MAGIC Capture the Flag Cybersecurity Puzzle Challenge will continue to empower students and build a skilled workforce for the future.
About MAGIC’s Capture the Flag Cybersecurity Competitions: MAGIC’s Capture the Flag (CTF) Cybersecurity Competitions offer an entry-level platform for high school, college, and nontraditional students to explore cybersecurity. These events, held biannually, feature puzzles developed by industry professionals, fostering teamwork and ethical hacking skills. With simultaneous participation across multiple locations worldwide, MAGIC promotes collaboration and innovation in cybersecurity education. Learn more at MAGIC’s website: https://magicinc.org/
About the Wyoming Department of Education CTE Division: The Wyoming Department of Education’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Division helps students explore diverse career pathways in Wyoming through resources like the ctEzine. They aim to provide equitable access to quality CTE experiences, fostering a competitive workforce. The CTE team supports students in discovering opportunities in skilled trades, applied sciences, and post-secondary education to shape their educational and career journey. https://edu.wyoming.gov/educators/career-tech-ed/
About the CyberWyoming Alliance: The CyberWyoming Alliance is a statewide, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Laramie whose mission is to increase cybersecurity awareness, education, and outreach in communities across the State of Wyoming. Learn more at: https://cyberwyoming.org/
About Papa Johns: Papa John’s donated pizza to any Casper, Laramie or Cheyenne teams in the MAGIC Capture the Flag Cybersecurity Puzzle Challenge. https://www.papajohns.com/
