High School Students Explore Cybersecurity Careers at St. Louis University Event
Students from the Masters of Cybersecurity Program at Saint Louis University recently played a key role in supporting the Global Center for Cybersecurity’s #SecurePathways series — a set of career awareness workshops designed to introduce local high school students to opportunities in the cybersecurity field.
Hosted in the St. Louis Room at the Busch Student Center, Dr. Maria Weber, Department Chair of Cybersecurity at SLU, welcomed students from across the region to campus. The half-day event aimed to broaden students’ understanding of cybersecurity and inspire interest in the growing field by providing exposure to both higher education environments and working professionals.
The Secure Pathways workshop began with a mentor introduction, followed by a hands-on walkthrough of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework — a foundational model for understanding how organizations ensure business resilience. Through relatable examples, such as the potential consequences of system failures at a McDonald’s restaurant, students explored how cybersecurity impacts everyday life and business operations.
Students then formed “Mini Cyber Command Centers” at their tables, where they engaged in interactive discussions around the five core components of the NIST Framework: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. These discussions centered on real-world applications, particularly how schools protect sensitive data such as student records, staff payroll information, and health records. Key terms like PII (Personally Identifiable Information) were introduced, and students learned basic methods to safeguard data and detect potential breaches.
In the second half of the workshop, students put their new knowledge to the test in an engaging online Capture the Flag (CTF) challenge. Working in teams of 2–4, students tackled cybersecurity puzzles designed to promote creative problem-solving, research, collaboration, and critical thinking. Top-performing teams were recognized with certificates of achievement and acknowledged by their peers and mentors.
Graduate students from SLU’s Cybersecurity program served as mentors and guides throughout the event, leveraging their own experience in national CTF competitions. Their professionalism, volunteer spirit, and dedication to the community made a strong impression on both students and staff. The Global Center for Cybersecurity is especially grateful for their support and leadership.
The event was organized with support from the Gateway Higher Education Cybersecurity Consortium (GHECC), which represents five universities and one community college system in the St. Louis region, working together to strengthen regional cybersecurity education. GHECC also provided a well-received pizza lunch for all participants.
To close the day, mentors from diverse professional backgrounds led a Q&A session, addressing student questions on a range of topics, including the impact of AI on cybersecurity, strategies to manage career stress and burnout, important skills for career readiness, and the underrepresentation of women in the field. Mentors provided candid insights and actionable advice, with many students seeking further connection via LinkedIn or business cards.
The Global Center for Cybersecurity extends its sincere thanks to our partners — Enterprise, Edward Jones, BJC HealthCare, the Regional Business Council, and The Cortex Innovation Community — for their ongoing support. Events like SecurePathways are made possible through your generosity and commitment to workforce development.