Punahou's CELT Cyber Team Finishes 5th at CyberPatriot Nationals: Leadership, Skills & Future of Cybersecurity

This spring, the corridors of Punahou School buzzed with pride and anticipation as the Cyber Education Leadership Team (CELT) prepared to represent Hawai‘i at the prestigious CyberPatriot 17 National Finals. Held in Bethesda, Maryland, the competition stood as the nation’s largest high school cyber defense event, drawing 1,406 teams from corners all across the United States—yet it was Punahou’s squad that finished fifth in the fiercely competitive All Service Division. Beyond their technical prowess, the team’s journey illuminated deeper lessons in leadership, teamwork, and the evolving realities of cybersecurity education.

The Road to CyberPatriot Nationals: A New Level of Competition​

Months before their journey to Maryland, the members of CELT set themselves a single, ambitious goal: make it to Nationals. Under the watchful guidance of coaches like Punahou Infrastructure Engineer Brian Hoole and John Martin, the vice president of enterprise information security at First Hawaiian Bank, the team channeled their energy into honing skills that reached far beyond classroom theory.
Unlike local contests, the CyberPatriot Nationals throw students into a simulated cyber battlefield. Challenges are designed to mirror real-world incidents—students must discover and close vulnerabilities in virtual versions of Windows, Windows Server, and Linux operating systems, all while keeping critical network services functioning. Under time pressure, the onus is on critical thinking, adaptability, and clear communication.
According to official event statements and technical guides provided by the Air & Space Forces Association (which organizes CyberPatriot), the competition aims to replicate the relentless pace and high stakes of professional cybersecurity operations. Teams are scored not just on the number of threats neutralized, but also on their ability to maintain the stability and availability of vital digital infrastructure—echoing the demands faced by today’s IT professionals.

Achievements Amid Intense Competition​

Representing Punahou in the national spotlight were Isaac Verbugge ’25, Kealoha Comcowich ’25, Chase Nam ’27, Daniel Dinh ’25, and Josh Yang ’25. Their fifth-place finish was heralded by the school’s Chief Information Officer, Shige Minami, as a landmark accomplishment. “Cybersecurity demands critical thinking under pressure, teamwork, and real-world awareness,” Minami noted as the CELT team balanced their rigorous training against full academic, athletic, and artistic schedules.
This achievement didn’t occur in isolation. CELT’s resurgence was marked by a move from a casual after-school club to a formidable, structured program. The adoption of the National Youth Cyber Education Program’s curriculum brought a fresh layer of seriousness and rigor to their approach. Coaches implemented methodical practice sessions, and students committed countless hours to learning security protocols, patching virtual servers, and managing user privileges—a microcosm of the challenges that define global enterprise IT today.

What Sets CELT Apart: A Culture of Leadership​

What separates the Punahou CELT team from many other competitors is their explicit focus on leadership and sustainability in cybersecurity. The shift from a loose club to a formalized, curriculum-driven program brought accountability and lasting value. As coach John Martin highlighted, the team’s internal evolution was about more than computers and code—it was about “building leadership, professionalism and teamwork. It represents our students stepping into a new level of maturity and excellence.”
Beyond the technical, the team’s development focused on soft skills: effective communication, project planning, and decision-making under stress. According to numerous experts in the cybersecurity sector, these attributes often make the critical difference during incident responses—where success is not merely about technical fixes, but also about coordinating with stakeholders, explaining risk, and keeping calm amidst uncertainty.

Real-World Training: More Than Just a Game​

The CyberPatriot nationals required CELT to lock down systems, patch known vulnerabilities, and create robust defense procedures, all while attackers (played by “red team” staffers) attempted to exploit their networks. These exercises mimic actual breach scenarios, where IT and security departments have to respond in real-time to evolving threats and ensure constant uptime.
One notable strength of the CyberPatriot program, echoed in feedback from both students and educators, is its focus on both Windows and Linux ecosystems. The dual-platform requirement meant that CELT’s young engineers had to become proficient at command line management, auditing services, securing user accounts, and configuring firewalls across diverse system architectures—skills directly translatable to future career opportunities.

The Experience Beyond the Firewall​

While the competition itself was high-stakes and intense, the trip also became an opportunity for personal growth. The team’s visit to the Washington, D.C. area included a private tour of Congress, walks to the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol Building, and a banquet that tested their formal etiquette and representation. As coach Hoole wryly commented, “We told them that they are representing not only Punahou but also Hawai‘i in general.” The students rose to the occasion, becoming ambassadors for their state and their school city thousands of miles from home.
Such cultural and civic experiences matter, particularly for fields like cybersecurity that increasingly intersect with public policy, government, and industry standards. It’s a reminder that defending digital borders also means understanding the world around them—one of the reasons business leaders and IT recruiters regularly cite CyberPatriot alumni as among the most well-rounded and promotable young professionals.

From Club to Incubator: Building the Next Generation​

Currently, CELT boasts around 40 active members spanning from Case Middle School through the Academy, signaling strong interest and a healthy talent pipeline. Notably, four members of the high-achieving national team are graduating seniors, posing both a challenge and an opportunity for sustaining excellence.
The coaches are keenly aware that legacy matters. “One of our biggest goals next year is to focus on the development of student leadership, particularly as it relates to the sustainability of the group over time,” Martin explained. A focal strategy is to deepen the engagement of middle schoolers—those in Case Middle School—so they can feed seamlessly into Academy-level and national competitions in the future. This feeder system, already showing promise, is poised to ensure CELT’s competitiveness for years to come.
Additionally, CELT’s inclusive atmosphere stands out. The club’s open-door policy enables students with varying degrees of prior knowledge to participate, learn, and challenge themselves. This democratized approach is vital in cybersecurity, where the talent shortage remains a pressing concern. By giving middle and high schoolers early access to real-world cyber education, Punahou positions itself as a leader in nurturing talent for both local and national industries.

Notable Strengths of CELT and the CyberPatriot Approach​

1. Immersive, High-Pressure Learning​

The National Youth Cyber Education Program’s curriculum focuses heavily on practical, hands-on scenarios. Students aren’t merely memorizing facts—they are actively defending live systems, which is a striking improvement over traditional IT classes. This format mirrors best practices from leading corporate defensive teams: continuous red-vs-blue exercises, vulnerability hunting, and system hardening are all at the core.

2. Focus on Leadership and Soft Skills​

By emphasizing communication, composure, and professionalism, CELT ensures that its members are prepared for the realities of modern tech careers. Many industry certifications—including CompTIA’s Security+ and ISC2’s SSCP—now test not just for technical skills, but also for an understanding of real-world threats and how to explain them to non-technical audiences. Punahou’s graduates will likely have a unique advantage here.

3. Integration Across Age Groups​

With its vision for a middle school to high school continuum, CELT is building a talent pipeline notable for both scale and inclusivity. By reaching students earlier, the program familiarizes them with fundamental cybersecurity concepts— like social engineering, password management, and basic system administration—before more advanced work in later years.

4. Exposure to Industry and Government Networks​

Through participation in events like CyberPatriot and tours of government institutions, CELT students deepen their appreciation for the intersection of IT, civic responsibility, and public policy. This exposure is critical for developing well-rounded, socially-aware engineers.

Potential Risks and Challenges​

No program is without areas of concern, and an honest assessment of CELT and the broader CyberPatriot model should flag several potential risks:

1. Sustainability Amid Leadership Turnover​

With four senior members graduating, there is always a risk of a knowledge vacuum or loss of momentum. While CELT’s feeder system and focus on student leadership are meant to mitigate this, transitions are rarely seamless. Programs in similar schools across the nation have sometimes faltered during periods of rapid membership change, particularly if documentation and mentorship are lacking.

2. Balancing Depth Versus Breadth​

The increasing rigor and specialization of CELT (including moving from club-like activity to curriculum-driven structure) raises the danger of overwhelming less experienced students or narrowing focus too early. National research on K-12 STEM programs often notes the need for careful scaffolding—without which student enthusiasm can wane.

3. Over-reliance on Volunteer Coaches​

A key asset of CELT is its dedicated coaches, yet this reliance can be precarious. If corporate or school staffing changes draw these volunteers away, the program could struggle with continuity. Advisable best practices include formal succession planning and coaching manuals.

4. Security in the Real World Is Messy​

While CyberPatriot provides robust simulated incidents, real-world attacks are often more chaotic and less well-defined. Over-confidence in training without a healthy sense of humility and ongoing learning could be risky. Practitioners emphasize the need for ongoing “purple teaming”—combining defensive and offensive learning—to remain sharp.

5. Potential Burnout and Student Well-being​

With the push towards Nationals, students face high pressure alongside academic and extracurricular commitments. Responsible mentorship includes monitoring for burnout—a lesson learned by many competitive school programs in esports, robotics, and debate.

The Bigger Impact: CELT’s Model for the Future​

Punahou’s CELT program is emblematic of a national shift toward more integrated, serious, and future-focused cyber education. As businesses, law enforcement, and governments contend with a growing barrage of digital threats, demand for skilled professionals shows no sign of abating. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects security analyst positions will grow at over triple the average rate for all occupations, evidencing the strategic importance of early training pipelines like CyberPatriot.
Moreover, partnerships between schools, local businesses (such as First Hawaiian Bank), and government agencies create powerful feedback loops. Alumni often return as mentors, fostering a cycle of continual improvement and a robust cybersecurity ecosystem for both the school and the wider region.

Looking Ahead: Building on Success​

For CELT and its participants, the future is both promising and filled with responsibility. The call from coaches and school leadership alike is clear—success at Nationals is only the beginning. Ensuring long-term viability, expanding access, and creating resilient leadership structures must remain priorities.
As other schools look to emulate Punahou’s model, several lessons stand out:

• Begin education early; middle school is not too soon for hands-on cybersecurity concepts.
• Balance rigor with accessibility, so students of all backgrounds can find a footing.
• Emphasize soft skills as much as technical ones.
• Foster partnerships with industry, higher education, and government for deeper enrichment.
• Graciously celebrate achievements, but never treat them as endpoints—learning in cybersecurity is an ongoing, evolving process.

Conclusion​

Beyond the firewall—a phrase that frames not only the technical work of securing systems but also the journey of personal growth and leadership—the Punahou CELT team’s success is both a celebration and a starting point. Their achievements in the CyberPatriot Nationals demonstrate the transformative power of dedicated coaching, formalized training, and a culture that values inclusivity, leadership, and real-world impact.
As digital threats grow in complexity, programs like CELT will play an ever-larger role in building the next generation of cyber defenders. For Punahou’s students, the lessons learned—about teamwork, resilience, and the intersection of technology with public life—will resonate far beyond competition halls or the classroom. The firewall may be virtual, but the maturity and excellence cultivated by CELT are built to last a lifetime.

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Source: Punahou Beyond the Firewall: CELT Shines at National Competition - Punahou School