Jennifer Kleman

Florida’s Largest High School Cyber Competition Breaks Records, Inspires Futures

Nearly 1,000 high school students, teachers, and chaperones from across the state descended on the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on April 4 for Cyber Florida’s annual CyberLaunch, the nation’s largest in-person, state-sponsored high school cybersecurity competition. And the excitement on the competition floor? Unmatched!

Hosted by Cyber Florida, CyberLaunch 2025 brought together students from 99 schools across 49 districts, including Florida’s five largest school districts and its smallest—LaFayette. In just its second year, CyberLaunch has grown into a premier showcase of talent and opportunity, offering a platform for students to shine and discover future careers in cybersecurity.

I would like to take this opportunity and thank all of Cyber Florida for putting this together.
It really is a wonderful opportunity and platform for the cybersecurity students of Florida to shine.
— Maria Halley Hernandez, John A. Ferguson Senior High School

The Ultimate Cyber Kickstart

Designed to familiarize high school students with the exciting world of cybersecurity, CyberLaunch featured a hands-on capture-the-flag (CTF) style challenge, inspiring keynotes, breakout sessions for educators, and opportunities for students to interact with industry professionals to gain insights into cybersecurity careers.

This year’s event also welcomed 18 career and technical education administrators from 12 school districts, highlighting growing support from school systems eager to expand cybersecurity learning in classrooms.

CyberLaunch 2025 wasn’t just about what happened in one day—it was the culmination of weeks of preparation. Participating teachers and students received access to a library of practice materials and classroom-ready activities that helped demystify cybersecurity concepts and build skills leading up to the big day.

Thank you for an amazing event. My students smiled the entire way home.
We plan on starting an IT Club next Sept.
– Capt. Tim McAllister, Orange Park High School

A Mission in Motion

CyberLaunch is more than a one-day event—it’s a key part of Cyber Florida’s mission to cultivate a robust cybersecurity workforce and create opportunities for every Florida student. Thanks to support from the Florida Legislature and private donors, Cyber Florida ensured that access to this event was obtainable by making the event free to all students and schools.

And the outcomes speak for themselves: students walked away energized, curious, and, in many cases, ready to learn more about the field, and start IT/cybersecurity clubs if they didn’t have one in place already. Teachers gained tools to help bring cybersecurity into their classrooms. And Florida took another big step forward in building digital resilience from the ground up.

And the Winners Are…

After an intense day of solving puzzles, cracking codes, and working as a team under pressure, a few schools rose to the top. We’re proud to announce the winning teams of CyberLaunch 2025:

Advanced level
1^st Place: John A. Ferguson Sr High, Miami-Dade
Teacher: Maria Halley Hernandez
Students: Michael Lopez, Sabrina Chile, Rachel Diaz

2^nd Place: 2: East River/Boone High Schools, Orange
Teacher: James Mitchell
Students: Zane Strait (Boone), Brady Graham (Boone), Jamal Santiago (Boone), Bi Trinh (East River)

3^rd Place: John A. Ferguson Sr High, Miami-Dade
Teacher: Maria Halley Hernandez
Students: Fabio Martin, Gabriel Barreto Otero, Dominic Hung, Angelo Isasi

Intermediate level
1^st Place: Hialeah Gardens, Miami-Dade
Teacher: Rein De Armas
Students: Daniel D. Alvarez, Jean M. Hernandez, Luis E. Lovera

2^nd Place: Crooms Academy of Information Technology, Seminole
Teacher: Halima Fisher
Students: Mikhail Tyukin, Anish Miryala, Alyssa Durand, Zane DeReamer

3^rd Place: Suncoast Polytechnical High School, Sarasota
Teacher: Stephen McCormack, Lucinda Schlotterback
Students: Lucas Mattos, Maria Kadochnikova, Ben Kuzmik, Szymon Stead-Topor

Beginner level
1^st Place: Angeline Academy of Innovation, Pasco
Teacher: Michael Marchesano
Students: Chris Workentin, Logan Prescott, Malakai Jefferson, Christopher Devoe

2^nd Place: Timber Creek High School, Orange
Teacher: Daniel Foster
Students: Eoghan Riley, Tomas Lopez Devia, Matthew Nguyen

3^rd Place: iPrep Academy North, Miami-Dade
Teacher: Yoel Monzote
Students: Raiya Cohen, Brianna Louissaint, Ariadna Monzon

These standout students demonstrated critical thinking, collaboration, and technical excellence under pressure—and we can’t wait to see where their cyber journeys take them next.

We are so grateful for all the time, energy, and care you put into making this event such a meaningful experience for the students.
It was truly impressive, and very much appreciated.
– Christine Ackerman, Middleburg High School

Looking Ahead

CyberLaunch will return with even more opportunities, more resources, and more students ready to make their mark. Whether you’re a teacher looking to bring cybersecurity into your classroom or a student curious about coding, hacking, and solving digital problems, Cyber Florida’s Operation K12  is your starting point.

To stay informed about next year’s competition, resources, and updates, follow Cyber Florida on social media and visit cyberflorida.org.

A HUGE thank you to our generous and amazing sponsors for supporting this important event!

Universe Sponsor
USF Youth Experience

Orbit Sponsors
AFCEA Central Florida chapter
Bluum
Certification Partners
CompTIA
HP
Prodigy Learning
Teaching Digital Natives

Liftoff Sponsors
EC-Council
Knowledge Pillars

Launchpad Sponsors
Certiport
Dark Enterprise Inc
Guardian Cyber
Marcraft
Siemens
UTeach UTexas

Starbase Supporters
Crespo AI
EDVision
Jamal Rodman
USF World
Zscaler Inc

SAVE THE DATE!

2026 Dates:

12 & 13 March 2026 

Sunshine Cyber Conference 2025 was an electrifying gathering of cybersecurity professionals, students, and industry leaders. With more than 500 attendees, the event was packed with energy, innovation, and invaluable insights. From cutting-edge keynote sessions to hands-on workshops, attendees had the opportunity to engage with some of the brightest minds in cybersecurity.

One of this year’s conference highlights was the 29 meet-ups scheduled through the Whova app, allowing participants to connect, collaborate, and exchange ideas seamlessly. The outstanding speakers and thought-provoking sessions left a lasting impact, covering topics ranging from emerging cyber threats to best practices in digital defense.

A Huge Thank You to Our Sponsors!

This event wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to:

• Podcast Sponsor: ThreatLocker
• Wifi Sponsor: Ballast
• Supporter Sponsors:
  • Carlton Fields
  • Plural Sight
  • Protiviti
  • Zscaler

Your contributions helped make this event a phenomenal success!

Shoutout to Our Exhibitors

We were thrilled to host an incredible lineup of exhibitors, each bringing unique expertise and innovations to the table:

• Armis
• Automation Strategy & Performance, Inc.
• Ballast Services
• Blackwood
• CodeBoxx
• CommHIT
• Cytrix LTD
• DG Technology Consulting and Barracuda Networks
• EC-Council
• Florida Department of Law Enforcement
• Florida International University Jack Gordon Institute for Public Policy
• Florida Gulf Coast University
• Global and National Security Institute at USF
• Insight Assurance
• National Cyber Security Alliance
• Orca Security
• Recorded Future
• Rubrik
• Scholarship for Services
• StingBox LLC
• Tampa Bay Economic Development Council
• The University of Tampa
• ThreatLocker
• University of South Florida School of Information and MCPA
• University of West Florida Center for Cybersecurity

Looking Ahead

Sunshine Cyber Conference 2025 was a testament to the power of collaboration in the cybersecurity space. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for this growing community. Thank you to everyone who attended, spoke, and contributed to making this event truly exceptional.

Stay tuned for details on Sunshine Cyber Conference 2026—we’ll be back bigger and better than ever!

Ben Price and Ben Dailey at FLGISA

“Both Ben Price and Ben Dailey are superb technical leaders in the field. They are forward-thinking and proactive workers who are invaluable assets to the team. They come into the ARCS team at the right time to augment our workforce to ensure our success for this year and beyond.”

— Bruce Caulkins, ARCS Director

Meet Ben & Ben: The Newest Members of the ARCS Team

Cyber Florida’s Aligned Realistic Cyberattack Simulation (ARCS) range is an invaluable tool for strengthening Florida’s cybersecurity workforce. As a no-cost training resource for state and local government employees, the ARCS range provides hands-on, real-world cybersecurity exercises to help teams stay prepared for evolving threats. Now, with the addition of Ben Dailey and Ben Price to the Cyber Florida team, the ARCS range is positioned to offer even more expertise and innovation.

Meet Ben Dailey, Cyber Range Coordinator

Ben Dailey comes to Cyber Florida with an informatics and information science background. With a bachelor’s in cybersecurity-focused informatics from Indiana University and a master’s in information science, he understands cybersecurity concepts and how data is structured and used—a perfect combination for managing the ARCS range.

As a Cyber Range Coordinator, Dailey ensures the range is always up-to-date and ready for training exercises. He’s also responsible for scheduling and maintaining ARCS activities, ensuring everything runs smoothly for participants.

Dailey believes ARCS is one of Florida’s best cybersecurity training tools. It allows teams to experience real-world threats in a controlled, risk-free environment, so their first encounter with a cyberattack isn’t when real data is at risk.

Dailey is focused on keeping ARCS updated with the latest threats and training tools. He also highlights the range’s extensive training catalog, which offers valuable materials for cybersecurity professionals and non-technical users.

Meet Ben Price, Cyber Range Analyst and former SOCAP Intern

Ben Price brings a unique mix of military intelligence and hands-on cybersecurity training to Cyber Florida. As a former all-source analyst in the Army, he developed analytical skills that now help him assess and improve cybersecurity training programs. However, it was his experience in the Security Operations Center Apprenticeship Program (SOCAP) that prepared him for his role with ARCS. During that time, he gained hands-on experience in cybersecurity operations, earned GIAC Cyber Threat Intelligence (GCTI) and Blue Team Level One certifications, and completed a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity at the University of South Florida.

Price optimizes and expands the ARCS range experience as a Cyber Range Analyst. He works to standardize processes, manage range events, and assess computer security incident response teams. His passion lies in the mission—helping to strengthen Florida’s cybersecurity defenses and provide world-class training to government agencies at no cost.

According to Price, the ARCS range provides more than just theory—it offers real-world cybersecurity exercises. In a risk-free environment, participants can train in incident response, red teaming, and malware analysis while experiencing simulated cyberattacks. This kind of hands-on experience is crucial for improving security postures across Florida.

One of Price’s biggest goals is to spread awareness of the ARCS range to all state and local government employees. “I believe everyone can benefit from being on the range,” he says. His message to agencies? The ARCS range is free and easy to access—visit cyberflorida.org/arcs-range to get started.

Ready to Train?

Whether you’re a cybersecurity professional or a public-sector employee looking to strengthen your cyber awareness, the ARCS range is free, accessible, and ready for you.

Visit cyberflorida.org/arcs-range today!

Cyber Florida’s phaseZERO: Incubation Innovator Seed Fund Awardee – StudySpaces

Receiving a seed fund grant from Cyber Florida at USF “has been a game-changer for StudySpaces,” says co-founder Axhens “Jesse” Mara. Along with co-founder Jamshidbek “Jam” Mirzakhalov, Mara launched StudySpaces with the goal of improving cybersecurity education through innovative, hands-on learning tools. The two met while studying at the University of South Florida, where they both earned their degrees and developed a shared passion for advancing cybersecurity training.

The funding has accelerated StudySpaces’ development, refined its platform, and brought its vision to life. This support has been transformative for a growing startup, allowing them to compete with larger industry players and expand their reach.

Looking ahead, the StudySpaces team plans to enhance its platform’s AI capabilities and expand its content engine to support more learning materials. They aim to equip more individuals with the cybersecurity skills needed to succeed by continually improving testing and training features.

For those looking to make an impact in cybersecurity education and research, the StudySpaces team emphasizes adaptability. “Focus on building tools that address real-world needs,” said Mara. “Listen to feedback, test your ideas continuously, and embrace new approaches. Practical, hands-on learning makes the biggest difference.”

Reflecting on the effect of Cyber Florida’s support, Mara shared, “The grant turned our vision into reality. StudySpaces is already helping people learn and gain skills more effectively by combining adaptive curriculum generation, testing, and tutoring. We are proud of what we’ve built and excited for the future as we continue to evolve and make a real impact.”

This is just the beginning for StudySpaces. With ongoing innovation and the support of programs like phaseZERO, the team is excited to refine their platform further and expand their influence on cybersecurity education.