High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2025

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Download Raising Cybersecurity Awareness in Central Florida Communities.pdf (664 KB)

Course Code

LDR

Course Number

3215

Faculty/Instructor

Brad Crawford

Faculty/Instructor Email

crawford@ucf.edu

About the Author

Hi! My name's Jacob Freeman, I'm a Sophomore at UCF majoring in Computer Science with a focus in Cybersecurity and Penetration Testing.

Abstract, Summary, or Creative Statement

The threat of cyberattacks is larger than ever. As our lives move further into the digital age, attackers become smarter, learn new techniques, and exploit subtler vulnerabilities. If we want to train a generation that is protected from these threats, it is our responsibility to start educating people early, not just after they enter the workforce.

To do this, I partnered with a non-profit student organization called the Collegiate Cyber Defense Club, better known as Hack@UCF, to teach the UCF student body and others in the Central Florida area about cybersecurity. Our focus was on both understanding modern threats and taking practical steps so personal data, accounts, and devices stay protected against malicious actors.

Reaching this goal required a coordinated effort between myself and several fellow students, including weekly informational meetings on campus and hands-on cyber training. The largest of these events was the Horse Plinko Cyber Challenge (HPCC), a live cyberattack simulation that lets students experience the value of cybersecurity in a realistic yet safe environment.

Keywords

Cybersecurity

Raising Cybersecurity Awareness in Central Florida Communities


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