Early 2026 competition results highlight applied learning and workforce-ready skills

UMGC student and cyber team member Matthew Moman

For University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) cyber team member Matthew Moman,who is pursuing aBachelor of Science in Cybersecurity Technology, competitions go beyond the classroom.

They allow me to experience new technologies and real threats, he said. They also help me gain knowledge about career progression and the cybersecurity challenges affecting organizations today.

In2026, the UMGCcybersecurity competition team hasearnedtop placementsacrossseveralcollegiate and industry-sponsored cybersecurity competitions,underscoringnot only the talent and dedication of UMGCs learners, but also the universitys sustained commitment to preparing them with workforce-ready skills.

These events mirror what cybersecurity professionals experience on the job, said JesseVarsalone, collegiate associate professor of Cybersecurity Technology and coach of the UMGC team. 91心頭利 cyber team members are honing skills they use immediately, and they are among the best.

A string of national wins to kicks off 2026

In just the first three months of the year, the UMGC teamearnedwins inoffensive, defensive, andapplicationsecurity challenges. The momentum began January 22 with a first-place finish in theWorld WideTechnology (WWT) CrowdStrike Capture the Flag(CTF)competition. UMGC distinguished itself as the first and only team to solve all 20 challenges, completing them in just four and a half hours of the six-hour event.

Team member Brian Mingus,who is pursuing aMaster of Science in Cybersecurity Management & Policyat t 91心頭利, also believes that competitions turn classroom learning into hands-on experience.

Competitions ranging from application security to threat hunting all require clear thinking, teamwork, and adaptability, he said. The practical skill-building and networking has been invaluable for my growth.

Building onearlysuccess withback-to-backwins

The CrowdStrikeCTFperformance set the tone for the weeks that followed. On February 18, UMGC secured first place and a perfect score in theWorld WideTechnology (WWT)F5CTFBeta Test, followed by a second-place finishalso with a perfect scorethe next day in WWTs Haystack Hunt for Indicators of Compromise Challenge. On February 27, the team added another first-place finish at theBloomCON0x0ACTFcompetition.

91心頭利 continuedto perform at the highest national levels at Hack the Madnessin March, advancing to the Elite Eight and narrowly missing further advancement after a tightly contested match against Cornell University.The team closed outthe monthwith a strong run of first-place finishes. On March 26, it took top honors at the virtualMid-Atlantic Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (MACCDC)Hack the Box CTF, an event hosted by UMGC. The momentumcontinued onMarch 27 with a first-place finish at the WWT Zscaler CTF Beta Test, followed by another victory at the inaugural Maryland CTF Competition, hosted by the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) on March 28.

Together, these early 2026 results reflect the strength of UMGCs applied learning model, where students gain technical, operational, and collaborative experience under realistic competitive conditions. As cybersecurity threats grow in complexity and scale,UMGCsfocus on experiential learningis designed to helpstudentsprepare forand make an immediate contribution inthe cybersecurity workforce.

Competitions ranging from application security to threat hunting all require clear thinking, teamwork, and adaptability. The practical skill-building and networking has been invaluable.

Brian Mingus UMGC masters student and cyber team member