Elmhurst Cyber Club completes a successful season

Elmhurst, IL - Students from Elmhurst Cyber Club recently completed their competitive season in Round 3 of the Air Force Association’s 13th annual CyberPatriot National Youth Cyber Defense Competition with successful performances in both the Platinum and Silver tiers.

CyberPatriot National Youth Cyber Defense Competition is the largest of its kind in the nation, challenging teams across the U.S. and abroad to find and fix security vulnerabilities in simulated environments. The top 12 Platinum tier teams will move on to the finals, to be held in March.

Led by Dr. Dean Jensen, Elmhurst University’s Cybersecurity Program Director, and parent mentor Eric Dirks, the club’s two teams competed in Round 3, held Jan. 22-23. The Varsity team’s Platinum tier performance placed them in the top 25% nationally out of 2500+ teams. Varsity team members are Tom Kunst, Brian Musgrave, Brian Niederman, Peter Quas, and Jack Rieske.

In addition, the Junior Varsity team earned Illinois’ First Place award in the Silver tier. Junior Varsity team members are Spencer Dirks, Evan English, John Heflin, Jack Jones, and Antonio Morales.

"We had a great season, which is a terrific foundation to build upon next year," said Jensen. "I commend everyone for their commitment, even in the face of a global pandemic."

"I learned a lot and hope to continue to learn and improve next season," said sophomore Spencer Dirks. "And we hope to share the experience with some new members."

The Elmhurst Cyber Club is open to Elmhurst-area students in grades 9-12. Interested eighth graders are also welcome to attend club meetings this spring, which will provide opportunities to learn about cybersecurity and help students prepare for the 2021/22 competitive season. The club’s next meeting will be held virtually on Sunday, March 7, at noon. To learn more, contact elmhurstcyberclub@gmail.com.