Participants of the GenCyber program in 2024
Participants of the June 2024 GenCyber program. Photo by Ingrid Burbey for Virginia Tech.

The Virginia Cyber Range has been instrumental in advancing cybersecurity education across the state through its support and participation in key events that provide both educators and students of all ages opportunities to gain and practice cybersecurity skills.

For high school and college students, the Cyber Range hosted or sponsored several Capture the Flag (CTF) events in FY 2024. These events leverage gaming to allow students to problem-solve and practice their cybersecurity skills and knowledge in a competitive but friendly environment. The Virginia Cyber Cup competition took place in February 2024 during the Cyber Fusion event at Virginia Military Institute. The Cyber Cup is an invitational statewide collegiate Capture the Flag (CTF) competition. In 2024, over 150 students and 30 of their faculty advisors from 21 Virginia colleges and universities, including Virginia Tech, participated. In March, the Commonwealth Cyber Cup, which is the high-school level equivalent of the Virginia Cyber Cup, welcomed over 100 high school students from across Virginia. 

During the summer, the Cyber Range focuses on educating the educators. In July 2023, the Cyber Range hosted the 6th annual statewide Virginia Cybersecurity Education Conference in Charlottesville. The conference, “Educating future cyber heroes,” featured workshops, panel discussions, and presentations aimed to equip teachers with new knowledge and skills to carry back to the cybersecurity classroom. Also included was “Cyber Signing Day” for graduating students who intend to enter cybersecurity programs in college, and educator awards for outstanding teachers.

In June 2024, the Cyber Range held their annual GenCyber Camp on the Virginia Tech Blacksburg campus. Funded by a National Science Foundation grant and administered by the National Security Agency, the camp equips educators with the tools and knowledge to teach cybersecurity courses, helping to build a more secure digital future. This year’s camp focused on advanced cybersecurity teaching skills, and welcomed 25 teachers from more than seven states.

These initiatives reflect the Cyber Range’s commitment to cybersecurity education and its alignment with Virginia Tech’s outreach mission.