More than 40 students from local high schools in Beavercreek, Kettering, Miamisburg, and Xenia visited Reynolds’ campus in Dayton, Ohio, for the inaugural Dayton Cyber Games, a cybersecurity competition held in collaboration with Phishbuster Academy.

“We started Phishbuster Academy to help fill the gap in the industry by equipping young professionals with IT and cybersecurity knowledge and technical experience,” said Justin L., Phishbuster Academy’s Vice President of Operations. “Many have the theoretical knowledge but lack hands-on experience, so we set out to find ways to integrate real-world experience for them.”

Reynolds’ Vice President of IT Infrastructure and Operations Clint C. and Chief Information Security Officer Nikhil K., along with Director of IT Operations Myra L., hosted an open forum for students to explore future careers in cybersecurity and IT and learn more about the skills needed to enter the field.

“Engaging with these bright young minds was a true pleasure,” Nikhil said. “Their energy, curiosity, and talent shone through. I hope our shared knowledge enriched their educational experience, created lasting memories, and inspired them to consider a future in cybersecurity or IT careers with us.”

During the capture the flag-style challenge, students raced to complete a series of tasks focusing on key areas of cybersecurity, including open-source intelligence, cryptography, Linux, and log analysis. The system scored participants based on speed and accuracy and displayed the results in real-time on a competition leaderboard.

Although the competition was scored individually, students were encouraged to seek guidance from their classmates and coaches, reinforcing the importance of teamwork and problem-solving in real-world cybersecurity scenarios.

Reynolds rewarded the top scorer, a Beavercreek junior, with a Raspberry Pi kit. Each Kettering student received a Rocketbook to celebrate their collective achievement as the school with the highest combined score.

The students enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of our Data Center and Security Operations Center followed by a pizza lunch in the dining room with Reynolds leadership.

Ray N., Career Technology Teacher and head of Kettering’s two-year IT program, shared, “This was a great opportunity for our juniors and seniors who struggle to gain experience and secure internships. Plus, it allows them to explore potential opportunities at Reynolds and add something valuable to their resumes.”

The group also learned more about Reynolds’ internships and part-time opportunities from Corporate Recruiter Jillian R., who shared insights into the qualities Reynolds values in candidates and how our roles offer hands-on experience and mentorship.

Clint reflected on the event, saying, “It was exciting to help these local schools test their knowledge in the cyber challenge. It’s encouraging to witness such strong commitment from both the schools and these young men and women eager to grow in technology and security.

“We look forward to future opportunities to partner with Phishbuster Academy and local schools.”

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