Cyber Florida’s CyberLaunch 2026 brought together students, educators, and industry leaders from across the state for a dynamic, hands-on cybersecurity competition, and this year’s event delivered on every level.
The event opened with welcome remarks from Kevin O’Farrell, Senior Chancellor at the Florida Department of Education, who underscored the importance of building a strong cybersecurity talent pipeline in Florida. From there, the competition, powered by Cyber Florida’s ARCS team in partnership with SimSpace, challenged students to apply their skills in real-world cyber scenarios.
Beyond the competition floor, educators were treated to a dedicated “Cyber Café,” complete with meals, networking opportunities, professional development sessions, giveaways, and a campus tour highlighting academic programs, student life, and USF’s eSports Lab. These experiences created space for teachers to connect, learn, and bring new ideas back to their classrooms.
A major highlight included an announcement from Dr. Sudeep Sarkar of Bellini College introducing the new Cyber/AI Scholars Program, further strengthening Florida’s pathway from education to career. The event also featured a Signing Day celebration, recognizing graduating seniors as they take the next step into higher education.
Cyber Florida proudly recognized the following outstanding educators:
- Trailblazer Award: John Kux, West Boca Raton Community High School
- Veteran Cybersecurity Teacher Award: Scott Tumelty, Wendell Krinn Technical High School
- New Cybersecurity Teacher Award: Michael Marchesano, Angeline Academy of Innovation
The day concluded with an inspiring keynote from Caitlin Sarian, also known as “Cybersecurity Girl,” who encouraged students to pursue their passions in cybersecurity.
A special thank you goes to ThreatLocker, our lead sponsor, whose support helped make CyberLaunch 2026 possible. We were especially pleased to have Collin Ellis, Senior Solutions Engineer at ThreatLocker, join us on stage to help present trophies, prizes, and ThreatLocker T-shirts to the winning teams, an exciting moment that capped off the competition and celebrated students’ hard work and achievements.
Congratulations to this year’s student competition winners:
Advanced Level
1st: Hernando High School (Hernando County)
2nd: Countryside High School (Pinellas County)
3rd: Hialeah Gardens High School (Miami-Dade County)
Intermediate Level
1st: West Boca Raton Community High School (Palm Beach County)
2nd: Middleton High School (Hillsborough County)
3rd: Wendell Krinn Technical High School (Pasco County)
Beginner Level
1st: Kirkland Ranch Academy (Pasco County)
2nd: Kirkland Ranch Academy (Pasco County)
3rd: iPrep Academy North (Miami-Dade County)
The impact of CyberLaunch 2026 is perhaps best reflected in the words of those who experienced it firsthand. One teacher shared, “My students absolutely loved it. I can’t say enough good things about it.” Educators also highlighted the importance of logistical support like transportation and lodging, which made participation possible for many schools.
From first-time participants to returning teams, the feedback was clear: CyberLaunch continues to provide an unforgettable, meaningful experience that inspires the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
Cyber Florida extends its sincere thanks to every student, teacher, partner, and volunteer who made CyberLaunch 2026 a success!