On every Monday and Thursday, Sierra Vista High School’s CyberPatriot Team brings students interested in technology together to build skills in information technology ( IT ), digital security, and troubleshooting, allowing them to expand their digital horizons past social media. CyberPatriot, a national cybersecurity competition, gives students the opportunity to perform as IT professionals tasked with finding and fixing security vulnerabilities in virtual operating systems. Students work in teams of five and earn points with every task completed. Teams race against each other during a four hour timer and try to secure as many systems as possible before time runs out.
Advising the team, Ms. Rebecca Thomas continues to passionately support the students and art behind cybersecurity. Thomas shares, “I think a lot of people misunderstand cybersecurity. To many, cybersecurity is hackers in hoodies typing code. While that might be a small part of it, in reality, cybersecurity is an art form where you learn so many different skills to protect systems and data from harm. Students have to think like a criminal and also learn as much as they can about how technology works. Cybersecurity is for everyone and Cyber Patriot is a great place to learn cybersecurity.”
Competing under the CyberPatriot program, Sierra Vista High School fosters two dedicated teams. Serving as the Vice President of the SV_Roots team, Justin Ramos ( 12 ) continues to support his teammates and helps drive for the team’s success. Ramos shares, “CyberPatriot has been an extremely fun experience for me to participate in. I was able to become involved in the world of cybersecurity and see what it’s really about. It taught me that the job can be hard at times, but what’s most important is the ability to effectively communicate with those around you to help you… Collaboration and problem-solving was key to help us succeed in our competition.”
Alongside the SV_Roots team, the Vista Cyber Queens compete as an all-women team, participating as powerful women in a traditionally male-dominated field. Emma Alonzo ( 11 ) continues to dedicate herself to honing her skills in cybersecurity while making lifelong friends along the way. Alonzo exclaims, “I super enjoyed Cyber Patriot! It was so fun to collaborate with my friends and meet new people. The program itself was very challenging but the more I studied the less tedious it became.”
This year, both CyberPatriot teams delivered exceptional performances, representing Sierra Vista’s mountain lion pride and competitive spirit throughout the competition. The SV_Roots team earned placement in the Gold Tier, showcasing their skills and strength against top teams. Meanwhile, the Vista Cyber Queens finished second in the state in the Silver Tier, marking an impressive achievement for Sierra Vista’s CyberPatriot teams. With many team members graduating this year, both teams look ahead to next year with excitement and hope to welcome new students ready to step into the world of cybersecurity.
Students interested in cybersecurity can join Cybersecurity Club meetings on any Monday or Thursday in Room 326 or contact Ms. Thomas in Room 326. For students who enjoy solving puzzles, working collaboratively, or just want to better understand how technology works behind the scenes, CyberPatriot offers a chance to build skills that impact students beyond high school.
