EMU Today

YPSILANTI – The Eastern Michigan University Information Assurance Student Association is celebrating its outstanding performance in the fall 2023 National Cyber League competition. This year, three EMU teams competed, demonstrating a significant increase in participation compared to the single team representing the University in the spring 2023 season. 

EMU’s top team improved remarkably, moving from No. 22 in the spring 2023 team competition to No. 13 in the fall 2023 competition. Overall, EMU placed No. 11, out of 521 participating colleges and universities, moving from No. 18 in spring 2023 while remaining No. 1 in Michigan, cementing its position as a leading institution in cybersecurity education and training.

“We are incredibly proud of our Information Assurance Student Association for their outstanding performance in the cyber league competition,” said Mohamed Qatu, dean of the GameAbove College of Engineering and Technology. “Their accomplishments are a testament to their hard work, talent, and passion for cybersecurity. Their success also reflects the exceptional quality of our cybersecurity education programs at EMU.”

Students compete across nine challenge categories: open source intelligence, cryptography, password cracking, log analysis, network traffic analysis, forensics, scanning and reconnaissance, web application exploitation, enumeration, and exploitation.

Student association members expressed their enthusiasm for their team’s achievements and the experience they gained from competing in the cyber league.

Sara Johnson,  a student studying information assurance and cyber defense in the combined bachelor’s and master’s program, competed in the competition for the first time this fall. 

“Participating in the cyber league pushed me to be resourceful and constantly open to learning new things. Especially since this was my first competition, I was faced with so many concepts that I had never had to deal with before,” said Johnson. “Research was a huge part of my cyber league experience, and I have no doubts that it will be a big part of the ever-changing world of cybersecurity.” 

Jarrett Signoretti, a student studying Information Assurance and Cyber Defense, has competed in the competition since the fall of 2022. 

“Competing in my third season of the cyber league has yielded me great results. The individual games helped me gauge my cybersecurity skill set,” said Signoretti. “Cybersecurity is a broad field that encompasses many jobs and skills, I realized which areas I excel at and which I could strengthen. Knowing my strengths can help me specialize when planning my career.”

Jarrett placed No. 27 out of 7,929 overall, No. 2 in log analysis, No. 4 in network traffic analysis, and No. 5 in password cracking.

EMU’s strong performance in the cyber league highlights the University’s and the GameAbove College of Engineering and Technology’s commitment to preparing students for successful careers in the cybersecurity landscape. The student association provides hands-on experience, networking opportunities, and professional development resources to foster their growth as future cybersecurity leaders.

To connect with the Information Assurance Student Association, visit their website. To learn more about the programs within EMU’s School of Information Security and Applied Computing, visit the website.  

About the GameAbove College of Engineering and Technology
The GameAbove College of Engineering and Technology provides world-class experiences in engineering, cybersecurity, aviation, construction management, autonomous vehicles, drone technology, aviation, and other areas of study in high-demand career fields in engineering and technology. It is within the college’s mission to cultivate individuals' intellectual and personal growth through research-informed education and diverse programs that emphasize the practical application of scientific knowledge. For more information about the GameAbove College of Engineering and Technology, visit the college’s website at gameabove.emich.edu.

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 13,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. Visit the University’s rankings and points of pride websites to learn more. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. To stay up to date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU Today.