Congratulations to Class of 2026 ARL Cybersecurity Networking G/T students and CyberPatriot competitors The Nanners (18-0763):
- Andrew Patrone (Glenelg High School)
- Jay Patel (River Hill High School)
- Brian Zhang (Mt. Hebron High School)
- Sean Cabaniss (Glenelg High School)
- Anjay Singla (River Hill High School)
- Musab Mohammad (Atholton High School)
This year, The Nanners achieved an outstanding 24th place nationally out of nearly 3,000 teams during the prestigious Platinum National Semifinal Round, the highest division of competition. The team also placed 3rd in the state of Maryland, marking an exceptional accomplishment at both the state and national levels.
CyberPatriot is a national cybersecurity defense competition that challenges students to take on the role of IT professionals defending computer systems from cyber threats. In each round, teams are given virtual computer systems and network scenarios and must identify vulnerabilities, secure the systems, and maintain functionality all within a four-hour period.
CyberPatriot gives ARL students the opportunity to test their cybersecurity and networking skills acquired during the 5-credit program GT program. Throughout the competition, The Nanners:
- Discovered and patched security vulnerabilities in Windows and Linux systems
- Solved digital forensics challenges by uncovering hidden evidence and analyzing cyber incidents
- Utilized scripting via Bash and Powershell to automate device hardening tasks
- Completed networking and cybersecurity knowledge assessments
- Built and configured advanced virtual networks from scratch
In the highly technical networking configuration challenge - one of the most difficult portions of the competition - Brian Zhang earned a Top 12 national placement, distinguishing himself among thousands of competitors nationwide.
The Nanner’s performance in the National Semifinal Platinum Round places the team among the top high school cybersecurity teams in the country. Their performance reflects exceptional technical ability, teamwork, and real-world problem-solving skills developed through ARL’s Cybersecurity Networking program.
We are incredibly proud of The Nanners for representing ARL on a national stage and achieving such an impressive milestone.
If you are a rising junior interested in CyberPatriot and jumpstarting your cybersecurity networking career with hands-on learning, speak with your guidance counselor about enrolling in the ARL Cybersecurity Networking Academy.