San Jac cybersecurity students recognized at ATE conference
PASADENA, Texas — Two San Jacinto College cybersecurity students were recently honored on a national stage for their academic excellence and contributions to advancing cybersecurity education. South Campus students Maria Gutierrez and Jaime Castro received Student Recognition Awards at the Annual Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Conference in Washington, D.C., hosted by the American Association of Community Colleges with support from the National Science Foundation.
Gutierrez and Castro attended the conference with Professor Alyssa Lozano, who mentored the students as they prepared to present their professional research poster highlighting two major advancements of the College’s Cybersecurity program:
- Alignment of the curriculum with industry standards – ensuring students graduate with the skills employers expect
- Development of the College’s Security Operations Center (SOC) – offering hands-on, real-time learning experiences that mirror professional cybersecurity environments
Throughout the conference, the students engaged with hundreds of attendees, including educators, industry professionals, and fellow students from across the nation. They fielded technical questions, demonstrated their understanding of cybersecurity concepts, and sparked potential collaborations with other community colleges to expand shared lab opportunities.
“At first, it was a bit intimidating to be surrounded and questioned by field experts, but I softened to it quickly and was able to showcase San Jac’s program and cast it in a bright light,” she said. “The cybersecurity community was so warm and encouraging. The support, knowledge, and encouragement from professors and industry leaders made me feel confident and left a long-lasting sense of empowerment.”
Gutierrez added that the updated Cybersecurity curriculum is preparing her for the hands-on SOC courses ahead. “I’m learning fundamentals now that will give me confidence when I enter the SOC environment for real-time monitoring and collaborative problem-solving.”
Castro said the conference helped him better understand the skills needed in a rapidly evolving industry.
“It felt great to share the type of curriculum San Jac has created to help students flourish,” he said. “Talking with cybersecurity professionals made it clear that this is a field where you must be a lifelong learner because technology moves so fast.”
He emphasized how the SOC has strengthened his learning. “The SOC has helped me visualize how things happen in real time, and the updated curriculum has positively impacted how I learn. Some of our professors have worked in the career path I want to take, and they’ve given me a clear blueprint for how to get there.”
Castro also expressed gratitude to Professor Lozano for creating the opportunity. “Without Professor Lozano, I wouldn’t even be in the position to be recognized. This experience has given me motivation and clarity for where I’m headed next in my cybersecurity journey.”
San Jacinto College’s Cybersecurity program is nationally recognized by the National Security Agency as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity, a distinction strengthened by the program’s growing technical capabilities and student achievements.
“Maria and Jaime represented San Jacinto College with excellence,” Lozano said. “Their professionalism, preparation, and passion for cybersecurity were clear to everyone who met them.”
Both students plan to continue their studies and earn their bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity at San Jac. Visit sanjac.edu to learn more about the cybersecurity program.
About San Jacinto College
Surrounded by monuments of history, evolving industries, maritime enterprises of today,
and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has served the people of East Harris
County, Texas, since 1961. The College is ranked second in the nation among more than
1,100 community colleges, as designated by the Aspen Institute and was named an Achieving
the Dream Leader College of Distinction in 2020. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution
that spans five campuses, plus an online college, San Jacinto College serves approximately
45,000 credit and non-credit students annually. It offers more than 200 degrees and
certificates across eight major areas of study that put students on a path to transfer
to four-year institutions or enter the workforce. The College is fiscally sound, holding
bond ratings of AA+ by Standard & Poor’s and Aa2 by Moody’s. San Jacinto College is
accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
