CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (Oct. 12, 2026)–Kirkwood Community College will host a regional satellite location for the 2026 Youth Cyber Summit on Tuesday, Oct. 13, providing more than 150 high school students an opportunity to explore cybersecurity careers through hands-on activities, real-world simulations and interaction with industry professionals.
The event, hosted statewide by the Iowa Cyber Hub and Iowa State University, will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kirkwood’s Cedar Rapids campus. Students in grades nine through 12 will join educators and industry professionals to learn about the growing field of cybersecurity and the skills needed to pursue careers in the industry.
A highlight of the summit will be the Cybersecurity Incident Management Exercise, a statewide simulation in which students work in teams of six to 10 to respond to realistic cybersecurity threats. Participants will assume professional roles, develop response strategies and present their solutions alongside students participating at other locations across Iowa.
“Cybersecurity plays an increasingly important role in nearly every industry, and events like this give students an early look at the opportunities available to them,” said Kirkwood Dean of Business and Information Technology Tamara Alt. “By working through realistic challenges and connecting with industry professionals, students can see how the skills they are learning apply to real-world situations. It’s also an opportunity to introduce students to a growing career field and help them better understand the education and training needed to succeed.”
Following the simulation, participants will attend a statewide keynote presentation streamed from Iowa State University featuring an industry leader. Students will then rotate through interactive sessions, including a capture the flag cybersecurity challenge, password-cracking demonstrations and threat-detection activities.
Local industry professionals will participate in the event, providing students with opportunities to learn about cybersecurity careers and the challenges organizations face in protecting information and technology systems.
Students enrolled in Kirkwood’s Cybersecurity and Compliance program will also participate as peer mentors and provide event support, sharing their experiences with younger students interested in pursuing similar educational and career pathways.
The summit is designed to introduce students to cybersecurity concepts, strengthen problem-solving and teamwork skills, and build connections between education and industry.
For more information about the Youth Cyber Summit, visit www.iowacyberhub.org/youth-cyber-summit.
