Nearly 200 students from ten high schools across west Kentucky, northwest Tennessee, and southern Illinois participated in Tech Mania 2026 on March 26, according to an April 7 announcement by Murray State University’s Cyber Education and Research Center. The event aimed to encourage students to consider careers in cybersecurity and network management.
Tech Mania provides collaborative learning experiences for high school and middle school students from the Murray State region. Since its launch in 2018, the program has engaged schools such as Caldwell County Area Technology Center, Dawson Springs High School, Graves County High School, Henry County High School (Tennessee), Hopkins County Career and Technology Center, Mayfield-Graves County Area Technology Center, Marshall County High School, McCracken County High School, Murray High School, Trigg County High School and Cairo High School (Illinois).
“Tech Mania provides high school students with the opportunity to engage in team-based competitions centered around cybersecurity and networking,” said Michael Ramage, director of the Murray State Cyber Center. “Our goal is not only to build technical skills, but to spark interest in high-demand careers and help students see a future for themselves in the technology workforce.”
During the event, student teams competed through activities on the KC7 online cybersecurity competition platform as well as a cabling exercise. Scholarships were awarded to members of winning teams—Eli Holley of Marshall County High School; Logan Dodd of Murray High School; Elijah Dunbar of Dawson Springs High School; Ardun Wilson of Trigg County High School—and other participants received door prizes.
Randall Joyce, program coordinator for Cybersecurity and Network Management at Murray State University said: “Many of the students who enroll in our program first experience cybersecurity through Tech Mania while they are still in high school. That early exposure builds confidence and interest, and it’s exciting to see those same students continue their journey with us at Murray State.”
Murray State’s cyber programs include a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity and network management as well as an accelerated master’s degree available online. The university was designated a Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security in 2019.
