Springfield, Mo., November 14, 2024 — Drury University’s Cyber Defense team achieved a remarkable 19th place in the national Department of Energy CyberForce Competition held in Chicago this past weekend. The senior team members — Max Makarov ’25, Mark Drozdetckii ’25, Ewa Samberger ’25, Sean Greeley ’25, Ethan Mitchell ’25 and Owain Ulven ’25 — excelled among the top 100 university teams nationwide.
“The CyberForce competition sponsored by the Department of Energy brings together the top 100 Cyber Defense programs from coast to coast to compete against one another to protect and defend their networks,” stated Dr. Shannon McMurtrey, Associate Professor of Cyber-Risk Management. “This competition tests students’ abilities to protect and defend critical infrastructure. I could not be more proud to see this team finish in the top 20 against this level of competition.”
The CyberForce Program is a workforce development initiative that prepares students to protect critical energy infrastructure through hands-on competitions, career fairs, and learning resources. Emphasizing operational and IT cybersecurity, the program nurtures critical thinking, teamwork, and real-world skills through simulated challenges. In 2023, CyberForce supported over 1,600 participants from 162 institutions, connecting students with career-building opportunities and strengthening the talent pipeline for the energy sector’s cybersecurity needs.
Simultaneously, another Drury team led by juniors and sophomores competed in the National Cyber League team game and placed impressively in the top 300 out of nearly 5,000 teams nationwide. This team included Taylor Sloan ’26, Lauren Fergerson ’25, Dalton Hammon ’27, Mayumi Shinozuka ’26, Nate Wishne ’26 and Sanjay Vikash Vasidhar ’26.
Drury University’s success in both competitions underscores the growing strength of its Cyber Defense program in preparing students to tackle real-world cybersecurity challenges.
For more information about the Drury Cyber Defense Team, visit their page at drury.edu/life-at-drury/get-involved/drury-cyber-defense-club. You can also reach Dr. McMurtrey at (417) 873-7242 or via email at smcmurtrey@drury.edu.
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Media Contact: Kevin Kropf, Ed.D., Executive Vice President of Enrollment Management, Marketing & Communications | Office: (417) 873-7524 | Email: kkropf@drury.edu