The Â鶹¹ú²úAV School of Cybersecurity hosted its first annual Awards Ceremony on April 24, 2025, celebrating the outstanding achievements of students and faculty during the 2024–2025 academic year. The event was led by Dr. Daniel Takabi, Director of the School of Cybersecurity and Director of the Coastal Virginia Center for Cyber Innovation.

Student Awards
The Awards Committee recognized students who demonstrated exceptional academic performance, leadership, and service to the cybersecurity community. Nominated by faculty, recipients exemplified initiative in the classroom, contributions to research, and engagement across campus. Awards were given in four categories:

  • Rising Star Award: Rhys Ferris, Aaron Cominio
  • Outstanding Junior Award: Jermiah Robinson, Danielle Caplinger, Ammar Shamsher
  • Outstanding Senior Award: Bradford Ochenaba Chei, Chandler Anderson, Elijah Gartell, Jada Cumberland
  • Outstanding Graduate Student Award: Greg Wilson, Brian Sharma

Dr. Takabi congratulated the student honorees, stating, “Your positive behavior and proactive attitude impact our Â鶹¹ú²úAV campus community and are key to the success of our School of Cybersecurity.â€

AI Security Competition
The School also recently hosted its first AI Security Competition, a Large Language Model (LLM) Capture the Flag (CTF) event that challenged participants to test their skills in adversarial prompting. Winners included:

  • First Place: Corniya Revell (Cybersecurity)
  • Second Place: Tyler Geist (Mechanical Engineering)
  • Third Place: Reema Chakma (Cybersecurity)

Faculty Awards
The Awards Committee selected faculty members who demonstrated exceptional dedication to teaching and the academic success of students. Faculty nominations were submitted by students and colleagues, recognizing contributions that went beyond the classroom. Dr. Takabi expressed his appreciation to all faculty for their commitment, saying, “Thank you for going the extra mile for your students and for your teaching excellence!â€

Two awards were presented:

  • Teaching Excellence Award:
     This award was presented to Professor Diwakar Yalpi for his outstanding instruction and dedication to the academic growth of his students.

    • Honorable Mention: Professor Shidea Yavary Mehr for her commitment to creating an engaging and impactful learning environment.
  • Above and Beyond Impact Award:
     This award recognizes a faculty member who has gone beyond the classroom to make a significant difference in students’ academic or experiential learning. Professor Malik Gladden received this award for his exceptional support of students, both personally and professionally, ensuring their success inside and outside the classroom.

    • Honorable Mention: Professor Saltuk Karahan for his contributions to student engagement and mentorship, helping to foster a supportive academic community.

Dr. Takabi expressed gratitude for the faculty's invaluable contributions to the School of Cybersecurity, highlighting how their dedication plays a key role in the success of the program and the students they support.