Join us for our 8th Annual Challenge
The Missouri High School Cybersecurity Challenge is an opportunity to provide your students with a fun, engaging experience while learning new cybersecurity skills and practice their existing skills in a low stress environment.
Teamwork Encouraged: Each team will consist of three high school students working together to solve a variety of web-based challenges.
Hands-On Learning Experience:
- Round One (Online)- January 19-21: Teams will tackle cybersecurity concepts, problem-solving, and research in an accessible online format.
- The Finals (In-Person, Columbia, MO)- February 17: The top 10 teams from Round One will experience an immersive environment, utilizing actual security tools within virtual Windows and Linux systems. This provides invaluable practical experience.
Inclusive Participation: While an understanding of security and computer networks is beneficial, prior enrollment in a formal cybersecurity program is not required. The questions range from a novice level of knowledge to highly skilled information. Students will learn a great deal by researching the questions.
Safe and Supportive Environment: The competition is structured to provide a secure and educational setting where students can explore new concepts and skills without risk.
What to Expect
Round One
During the first round, students can log in each day (January 19-21, 2027) to solve challenges. The challenges are from a Jeopardy style board with different values based on difficulty. Students can use any resource to answer the questions (with the exception of having someone tell them the answer). At the end of the round, points will be tallied to determine who the top 10 teams are around the state.
Finals
Students will arrive in Columbia on February 17, ready to dive into the challenge! Students will log in to a cyber range and use industry tools to solve various cybersecurity challenges. The range is web based, so any connected device can be used, but a computer is the best option.
Registration
Each team will need an adult school sponsor. As the sponsor, you do not need to have any prior cybersecurity knowledge or skill. You are allowed to sponsor more than one team. When registering, there is enough room for 8 teams. If you have more than 8 teams that you are registering, contact Andy King at kingak@more.net.
Inform Your Students
Start identifying students that might be interested in this competition and let them know about the opportunity. If you would like a flyer to print out with information, you can find one here. Be sure to register all teams by January 8!