Students in Lasell University’s cryptology class recently placed second in a virtual Capture the Flag (CTF) challenge hosted by CyberTrust Massachusetts. The strong finish highlights the students’ applied knowledge and hands-on learning throughout the semester.

Lasell’s team, called the CyberDefenders, competed in a four-hour event held in the classroom, competing virtually against many other institutions while working through 33 cybersecurity challenges. The competition tested students on real-world problems and pushed them to use the technical skills developed during their coursework. 

Over the course of the cryptology class, Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity Varshitha Manjunath focused on building the fundamentals of project-based, experimental learning. Manjunath believes that this hands-on style of learning is the most effective way to understand complex subjects. 

Students in Lasell’s Cybersecurity major learn fundamental IT and computer skills, while emphasizing information security, risk mitigation, and data analytics.

Manjunath said she appreciated seeing the students retain the problem-solving skills they learned and apply them within the competition.  

“I saw that experimental learning and I was very happy to see the outcome of the course well received from them,” Manjunath said.  

The CTF event served as a portion of the class’s final grade, and was designed to encourage student engagement through interactive, gamified challenges.  

In addition to the implementation of the problem-solving curriculum learned throughout the semester, the competition was also a great way to help students seek internship opportunities and find out what they would like to specialize in within the cybersecurity field.  

Manjunath aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry. By guiding students through real-world experiences and exposing them to core curriculum, certifications, and internship opportunities, she hopes they graduate feeling fully prepared to enter the workforce.  

The experience not only showcased the students’ technical abilities but also reflected the impact of Manjunath’s emphasis on experimental learning.  

“Nothing is more satisfying than seeing your own students flying with beautiful colors and it feels very rewarding to see them grow and win competition,” Manjunath said.