Cyber Tigers Place First During TexSAW Competition

St. Philip’s College Cybersecurity Club, Cyber Tigers, placed first overall during the University of Dallas Cybersecurity competition – TexSAW in early November. The competition hosts both Computer Science and Software Engineering students from across Texas who are interested in expanding their knowledge and pursuing careers in cybersecurity. Seven SPC students participated in the TexSAW competition.

Cyber Tigers participate in multiple competitions throughout the year such as the US CyberForce Competition in New Mexico that took place November 14-17. “We have a very active Cybersecurity Club, preparing studies for certifications, competitions and employment,” says IT Program Director Rick Lopez. During competitions, students gain valuable hands on technical skills that mirror real world environments.

SPC Business Information Solutions (BIS)/ Information Technology (IT) department offers two associate (AAS) degrees: AAS Cybersecurity Degree and AAS Network Administrator Degree. The department also offers a two eight-week session to obtain a Level-1 Cybersecurity Certificate. Over the last 3 semesters, the SPC IT program experienced an increase in enrolled students oftentimes doubling in class size.

The program is recognized in Microsoft, CISCO and NSA Cybersecurity. The department is currently pursuing the AWS (Amazon Web Services) academy certification. The curriculum is aligned with industry leaders that provide internship opportunities for students.

“We successfully place 100% of the internship students with employer partners. Over 90% of the students gain employment either directly through the internship or another company with salaries ranging from $54,000 to $60,000,” says Lopez.

To learn more about the SPC BIS/IT program, click here.