Morgan Finch & Rebekah Sokoloski | Women in Cybersecurity At Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University’s Prescott Campus, cybersecurity is more than a major, it’s an opportunity for leadership and excellence. For two students, Morgan Finch (’26) and Rebekah Sokoloski (’26), that opportunity has taken shape in the form of CyberAero, a student-led Capture the Flag (CTF) experience designed to prepare and inspire the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
Reviving CyberAero: A Student-Led Vision Takes Flight CyberAero had existed in years past, but had become inactive, until Dr. Krishna Sampigethaya, department chair of Cyber Intelligence and Security, approached Morgan, Rebekah and fellow lead Nichole Thomas with the challenge to bring it back. “It was impactful to have the department chair reach out with such an amazing opportunity,” Rebekah recalls. “I knew this would open doors for high schoolers who might be interested in cybersecurity.” The students reimagined CyberAero from the ground up, redesigning it into a space-themed, scenario-driven competition inspired by Sandia National Laboratories’ Tracer FIRE challenges. They added introductory workshops, hands-on labs and narrative-based challenges under their fictional aerospace startup, Nova Venture. The impact has been significant. Embry‑Riddle students gain hands-on experience in challenge development and real-world cyber-defense concepts. High school participants step into cybersecurity for the first time in an environment that is welcoming, fun and career-shaping. Team members regularly speak about CyberAero in internship interviews, demonstrating leadership, technical depth and project management experience. The Future of CyberAero is in Secure Hands CyberAero is just one illustration of the excellence and innovation that Embry‑Riddle cyber students bring to their work: a student-led initiative soaring in creativity, collaboration and purpose-driven leadership. Through the work of Morgan and Rebekah, CyberAero has become a catalyst, empowering high school students, preparing college students for real-world careers and raising cybersecurity awareness nationally.
In just two years, Morgan and Rebekah have demonstrated the powerful impact of women leading in a field where they are critically underrepresented by together transforming CyberAero into a unique statewide educational outreach program, one that blends technical expertise, mentorship and Embry‑Riddle’s signature hands-on approach to learning. Two Paths Converging in Cybersecurity Leadership Morgan Finch: Leading by Example Finch arrived at Embry‑Riddle with only a basic understanding of cybersecurity but with the confidence that Embry‑Riddle would “provide a top-notch education ... and endless opportunities” to learn and build leadership. Over time, she found her stride through clubs, competitions and conferences. She has served as vice president of Women in Cybersecurity, team lead for CyberAero and a cybersecurity intern at Palo Verde Generating Station, where she worked hands-on with insider-threat defense and industrial cybersecurity. Her proudest accomplishment? Bringing CyberAero back to life. “Going from competing to creating a Capture-the- Flag competition was something I never thought would be possible ... Being able to provide such a unique opportunity to high school students is the most rewarding part.”
Rebekah Sokoloski: Shaping a Future in Cybersecurity Leadership
For Sokoloski, the turning point came not in a classroom, but at her first CTF competition. That experience “completely changed” her trajectory, revealing how classroom knowledge transforms into real-world skill. Capture-the-Flag challenges became her foundation for mastery, ultimately leading her to serve as President of the Cyber Defense Club, compete nationally and complete a high-impact internship with American Express on AI risk assessment. What she is most proud of, however, is the personal transformation she experienced along the way. “I have grown so much in my confidence, my leadership skills [and] my communication skills. I stepped into roles I never thought I would be in, and I couldn’t be more grateful.” Her leadership style mirrors her journey: supportive, motivational and rooted in helping others grow.
This story was originally written by Ashley Williams.
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