Flandreau grad helps DSU win global cybersecurity competition

A Dakota State University student from Flandreau recently played a key role in a historic win for DSU at the Collegiate Penetration Testing Competition (CPTC), a major global cybersecurity event.
Hunter Wade, a 2020 graduate of Flandreau Public High School, is currently pursuing a masters degree in cyber defense at DSU. He was part of the DSU team that beat out more than 100 universities worldwide.
DSU has competed in the event before, but this was the first time they won it all.
Never heard of penetration testing, or pen testing? Its like ethical hacking. In this particular competition, cybersecurity student teams were asked to simulate attacks on social media systems and identify weaknesses before real hackers could exploit them.
Past competitions have focused on industries like transportation, hospitality, finance, healthcare, and even election security.
I was blown away by how accurate and realistic the competition really was, Wade said.
CPTC isnt just about hacking, though. Teams also work with simulated clients, answer questions, and present their findings giving students like Wade real-world skills that go far beyond technology.
And for many participants, the competition leads to job offers.
This was an amazing networking opportunity. This competition is sponsored by big names in the industry, and its always fun to meet new people and reconnect with those we know already, Wade said, adding that hes looking forward to what lies ahead when he wraps up his masters this spring.
Id like to continue penetration testing because its fast-paced and requires a broad skill set everything from web exploitation and social engineering to malware development and physical security, Wade said.
The natural next step is moving into red-team engagements, which are longer-term, slower-paced, and designed to emulate advanced threats.
Wade is the son of Randy and Inday Wade. Many in the community may know the family Randy and Inday owned the Pizza Ranch in Flandreau for nearly 15 years. Randy is also a member of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, while Inday is part of the local Filipino community.
Dr. Tyler Flaagan, DSUs professor and team coach, said the students proved they can compete and win on a global level. The University of Florida took second place, and Penn State placed third.
More than 100 schools from seven global regions competed.
DSUs Google Cybersecurity Clinic covered the teams travel expenses.