For immediate release

Nassau Community College Team Wins 2023 Long Island
Capture the Flag Cybersecurity Competition

April 25, 2023, Garden City, NY — A Nassau Community College student team was awarded first place in the 2023 Long Island Capture the Flag (LICTF) cybersecurity competition. The annual event, which features a series of challenges designed to test skills and knowledge of cybersecurity including cryptology, was held in partnership with the Long Island chapter of the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC²).

18 teams participated in the competition including New York Institute of Technology, Suffolk Community College, Farmingdale State College, Hofstra University, St. John's University and Adelphi University. Teams were given just under five hours to solve 15 problems and were only permitted to move on in the competition once a question was solved.

“These students are very dedicated.  They continuously hone their skills partaking in various capture the flag events both in-person and virtually.  They are great representatives of the NCC Cybersecurity program and the college,” said Ernest DeFalco, Associate Professor, Nassau Community College.

NCC students Anthony Zito (Oceanside, NY), Bhargav Edupuganti and James Ferreira (Floral Park, NY) made up the winning team, known as NCC_JAZZ_BAND. 

“The LICTF this year was challenging for Cybersecurity Majors across Long Island. I prepared by practicing on websites like Overthewire, HackTheBox, PicoCTF, and my very own website I wrote regarding CTFs. At last year’s LICTF I was the only student from the College and this year we have a team that secured first place. This is a major accomplishment,” Anthony Zito, NCC student and ACM President

“This year’s LICTF competition was a great opportunity for us NCC students as we were thoroughly prepared to compete based on what we have been studying in the classroom. We attempted PicoCTF right before this competition and we excelled. This was my first competition, and it was a thrilling experience that I will always remember. The highlight of the event for me was advancing my skillset and the knowledge I gained throughout the competition,” said Bhargav Edupunganti, NCC student.

Pictured from L to R:
NYIT Chair, Michael Nizich
Michael Gluckman (Chapter President of Long Island ISC^2)
James Ferreira, Information Technology AAS and Cybersecurity Certificate Dual Degree
Anthony Zito, Cybersecurity AS (ACM President)

For more information on NCC’s Cybersecurity degree and certificate programs please visit our website at ncc.edu.

Media Contact:  Lindsey Angioletti | lindsey.angioletti@ncc.edu | C:  (516) 320-0695

ncc.edu/newsreleases
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About Nassau Community College

Nassau Community College, a campus of the State University of New York, provides a comprehensive public college experience designed to transform lives through higher education. Serving 14,000 full-time, part-time and continuing education students, NCC offers more than 80 programs that lead to the associate’s degree or certificate. Through on-campus and online offerings, the College educates local and international students, and boasts 168,000 alumni. Situated on 225 acres in Garden City, Long Island, the college grounds reside in historic Nassau County, one of the most desirable locations to live in the United States and an epicenter for business and careers. Since 1959, NCC has earned a nationwide reputation for academic excellence, affordability, and ease of transferability to four-year schools.