{"id":220607,"date":"2026-05-26T17:24:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T21:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/testing.news-you-need.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/26\/building-a-resilient-future\/"},"modified":"2026-05-26T18:15:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T22:15:14","slug":"building-a-resilient-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/testing.news-you-need.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/26\/building-a-resilient-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Building a Resilient Future"},"content":{"rendered":"

Building a Resilient Future<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/erau.edu\/about\/news-and-stories\/hub-spoke\/stories\/building-a-resilient-future<\/a><\/p>\n

Publish Date: 2026-05-26 17:24:00<\/a><\/p>\n

Source Domain: erau.edu<\/a><\/p>\n

Author: <\/a><\/p>\n

Using an unordered list, summarize the following article with between 4 and 8 key points.
\n At Embry\u2011Riddle Aeronautical University\u2019s Prescott Campus, cybersecurity is more than a major, it\u2019s an opportunity for leadership and excellence. For two students, Morgan Finch (\u201926) and Rebekah Sokoloski (\u201926), that opportunity has taken shape in the form of CyberAero, a student-led Capture the Flag (CTF) experience designed to prepare and inspire the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
\nIn just two years, Morgan and Rebekah have demonstrated the powerful impact of women leading in a field where they are critically underrepresented by together transforming CyberAero into a unique statewide educational outreach program, one that blends technical expertise, mentorship and Embry\u2011Riddle\u2019s signature hands-on approach to learning.
\nTwo Paths Converging in Cybersecurity Leadership
\nMorgan Finch: Leading by Example
\nFinch arrived at Embry\u2011Riddle with only a basic understanding of cybersecurity but with the confidence that Embry\u2011Riddle would \u201cprovide a top-notch education\u2026 and endless opportunities\u201d to learn and build leadership. Over time, she found her stride through clubs, competitions and conferences. She has served as Vice President of Women in Cybersecurity, team lead for CyberAero and a cybersecurity intern at Palo Verde Generating Station, where she worked hands-on with insider-threat defense and industrial cybersecurity.
\nHer proudest accomplishment? Bringing CyberAero back to life.
\n\u201cGoing from competing to creating a Capture-the-Flag competition was something I never thought would be possible\u2026 Being able to provide such a unique opportunity to high school students is the most rewarding part.\u201d
\nMorgan\u2019s leadership style is anchored in support, communication and modeling excellence, a philosophy shaped by Embry\u2011Riddle alumna Amalie Hansen, whose mentorship encouraged her to get involved early in her academic journey.
\nRebekah Sokoloski: Shaping a Future in Cybersecurity Leadership
\nFor Sokoloski, the turning point came not in a classroom, but at her first CTF competition. That experience \u201ccompletely changed\u201d her trajectory, revealing how classroom knowledge transforms into real-world skill. Capture-the-Flag challenges became her foundation for mastery, ultimately leading her to serve as President of the Cyber Defense Club, compete nationally and complete a high-impact internship with American Express on AI risk assessment.
\nWhat she is most proud of, however, is the personal transformation she experienced along the way.
\n\u201cI have grown so much in my confidence, my leadership skills [and] my communication skills. I stepped into roles I never thought I would be in, and I couldn\u2019t be more grateful.\u201d
\nHer leadership style mirrors her journey: supportive, motivational and rooted in helping others grow.<\/p>\n

Reviving CyberAero: A\u00a0Student-Led Vision Takes Flight
\nCyberAero had existed in years past, but had become inactive, until Dr. Krishna Sampigethaya, Department Chair of Cyber Intelligence and Security, approached Morgan, Rebekah and fellow lead Nichole Thomas with the challenge to bring it back.
\n\u201cIt was impactful to have the department chair reach out with such an amazing opportunity,\u201d Rebekah recalls. \u201cI knew this would open doors for high schoolers who might be interested in cybersecurity.\u201d
\nThe students reimagined CyberAero from the ground up, redesigning it into a space-themed, scenario-driven competition inspired by Sandia National Laboratories\u2019 Tracer FIRE challenges. They added introductory workshops, hands-on labs and narrative-based challenges under their fictional aerospace startup, Nova Venture.
\nA Culture of Collaboration, Mentorship and Professionalism
\nCyberAero is unique at Embry\u2011Riddle because it flips the script: students don\u2019t just compete in cybersecurity challenges, they build and host them. That shift demands creativity, teamwork and problem-solving.
\nBoth leaders emphasized the same philosophy:\u00a0support one another, communicate constantly and value every contribution.
\nMorgan notes that communication was the key to staying aligned across dozens of moving parts, while Rebekah highlights how their shared passion kept the team focused and energized.
\nThe impact has been significant:<\/p>\n

Embry\u2011Riddle students gain hands-on experience in challenge development and real-world cyber-defense concepts.
\n High school participants step into cybersecurity for the first time in an environment that is welcoming, fun and career-shaping.
\n Team members regularly speak about CyberAero in internship interviews, demonstrating leadership, technical depth and project management experience.<\/p>\n

One milestone stands out for both leaders: the moment CyberAero gained true momentum on campus.
\nFor Rebekah, it was seeing more than 20 Embry\u2011Riddle students apply for the 2026 CyberAero team \u2014 far more than they anticipated.
\nFor Morgan, it was presenting CyberAero to the Prescott Advisory Board and realizing the scope of their impact.
\nA Model for Sustainable Student Leadership
\nOne of the most important innovations the two leaders introduced was a succession plan, ensuring that each set of team leads trains the next. This structure guarantees that CyberAero will grow long after they graduate.
\n\u201cI hope CyberAero can be hosted for high schools all over Arizona \u2014 not just Prescott,\u201d Morgan says.
\nTheir vision is bold, but fitting for a program built at Embry\u2011Riddle: scaling CyberAero into a statewide cybersecurity outreach pipeline.
\nLessons That Will Shape Their Futures
\nBoth students describe CyberAero as a defining leadership experience \u2014 one that built resilience, sharpened communication and strengthened their ability to guide a team through complex, high-stakes challenges.
\nMorgan summarizes it simply:\u00a0\u201cI learned to face challenges head on, and that giving back is the most rewarding experience.\u201d
\nRebekah echoes that sentiment:\u00a0\u201cCyberAero showed me how important communication is. It taught me how to lead with enthusiasm and purpose.\u201d
\nAs they look ahead \u2014 Morgan to her continued work in the nuclear sector and Rebekah to futures in cyber risk, AI security and industry leadership \u2014 both intend to keep mentoring, teaching and inspiring young cybersecurity professionals. Because to them, cybersecurity is more than a career. It is service.
\nThe Future of CyberAero Is in Secure Hands
\nCyberAero is just one illustration of the excellence and innovation that Embry\u2011Riddle cyber students bring to their work: a student-led initiative soaring in creativity, collaboration and purpose-driven leadership. Through the work of Morgan and Rebekah, CyberAero has become a catalyst, empowering high school students, preparing college students for real-world careers and raising cybersecurity awareness nationally.
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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