CCPS Students Demonstrate Skill and Resilience at NECCDC Regional Finals

Students from The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies (CCPS) recently competed in the Northeast Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (NECCDC) Regional Finals, a rigorous three-day event that challenged participants to defend against real-world cybersecurity threats in a high-pressure environment.

“The experience was immensely beneficial, offering practical learning in cyber defense, incident response, and team dynamics,” said Rahul S. Karnik ’93SVC, ’96M.B.A., Adjunct Instructor, Department of Business Analytics and Information Systems, The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, and Coach of STJCyberStorm. “I am very proud of their performance and growth throughout this competition.”

The competition immersed students in a dynamic simulation that mimics real-world cyber defense scenarios. Teams were tasked with protecting their systems against continuous “red team” attacks—coordinated efforts by cybersecurity professionals to infiltrate and compromise network infrastructure.

Despite these challenges, the CCPS team demonstrated strong resilience and technical capability. Notably, they successfully defended critical infrastructure—particularly Active Directory—throughout the competition. 

“I really had an amazing time at this competition,” said Lucas Daoust, a junior majoring in information technology. “It really showed me the reality of cybersecurity.”

The event concluded with a dramatic final hour, during which the red team executed a full takeover of the team’s firewall. In a unique and hands-on twist, students were directly involved in the final stage of the attack, gaining invaluable exposure to high-pressure incident response and advanced defense strategies.

Beyond the technical challenges, the competition fostered exceptional teamwork and collaboration. Students worked tirelessly—often through long, sleepless hours—developing strategies, supporting one another, and strengthening their cohesion as a unit. Their ability to adapt, communicate effectively, and persevere under pressure was a testament to their preparation and dedication.

“Despite these challenges, our team demonstrated strong resilience and technical capability,” said Mr. Karnik. “Notably, they successfully defended critical infrastructure—particularly Active Directory—throughout the competition. In a standout moment, one of our students gained access to a red team device and left a message, which prompted increased attention from the red team and added an exciting competitive dimension to the event.”

Beyond technical skills, the competition fostered exceptional teamwork. The students spent long, often sleepless hours collaborating on strategies, supporting one another, and strengthening their team cohesion. 

Team member Ayaan Bhatti, ’28 Cyber Security Systems, emphasized resilience and collaboration throughout the competition. “I’m very happy with the results,” he said. “Our goal remained the same throughout constant hiccups, and we were able to persevere. I learned a lot and grew my bond with the team. The competition taught me how to shift gears when your initial plan doesn’t work—because 95 percent of the time it doesn’t. Our team thrived because we had constant communication and were never blaming each other when something went wrong.”

For Alyssa Meczkowska, who is graduating this month with a bachelor’s degree in computer science, the experience was a defining moment in her academic journey. “Overall, attending NECCDC Regionals was a pivotal part of my journey at St. John’s,” she said. “This competition allowed me to gain real-life cybersecurity experience that I never would have had the opportunity to otherwise. It taught me what it’s like to work with others under the real-time pressure of being under a cyberattack, and I am extremely grateful for this incredible opportunity.”