Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website

St. John's University recently hosted its second annual "Capture the Flag" coding competition, aimed at promoting cybersecurity literacy and enhancing students' data security skills. The event took place on January 24 at St. Augustine Hall on the university's Queens, NY, campus.

The competition saw participation from over 25 students from four New York City high schools. The event was sponsored by the Sanford family, whose mission is to empower students through technology and strengthen the Cyber Security Systems community on campus. Linda S. Sanford, a pioneer in the technology industry and a member of the St. John's Board of Trustees Emerita, expressed her support for the event.

The coding competition was designed specifically for high school students and featured a digital version of the popular game "Capture the Flag" (CTF). Teams competed to find hidden text strings, or "flags," in various cybersecurity tasks. The event aimed to enhance students' strategic-thinking skills and teach them how to better secure data and prevent security breaches.

The competition received support from current St. John's University students, who acted as mentors to the participating teams. Sebastian Torres, a sophomore majoring in Computer Science, was impressed by the students' knowledge and efficiency. The event was also praised by Jacqueline Grogan, Associate Provost for Enrollment Partnerships and Engagement, who noted the unique atmosphere of intensity in the room.

Lea Chen, a student at Archbishop Molloy High School, participated in the competition for the first time and appreciated the help and patience of the mentors. She described the event as a great opportunity to learn and have fun.

The winners of the competition were Team TKA, consisting of Antonia Dey, Muhammad Rafikov, and Koushik Sarkar. They captured six out of the ten possible flags and received a gift bag provided by St. John's University. Muhammad, who attends Brooklyn Technical High School, expressed his enthusiasm for the event and his newfound passion for cybersecurity.

Looking ahead, St. John's University plans to organize another larger coding competition later this semester, providing an opportunity for current students to enhance their coding skills. Dean Iandoli encouraged students to participate, emphasizing the value of hackathons in gaining hands-on knowledge in a fun way.

The "Capture the Flag" coding competition at St. John's University was a successful event that showcased the importance of cybersecurity education and provided students with a platform to enhance their skills. With the support of mentors and sponsors, the event fostered a sense of collaboration and enthusiasm among the participants.