01621nas a2200157   4500000000100000008004100001653002800042653003100070653002500101100001600126700001600142245010300158300000900261490000700270520118600277       2023                            d10acybersecurity education10acybersecurity competitions10acybersecurity skills1 aLora Pitman1 aBrian Payne00aThe C-factor in the Cybersecurity Equation:  The Importance of Student Cybersecurity  Competitions  a7-240 v543 a<p>This study explored the role of cybersecurity competitions for students’ knowledge, skills, and future interest in participants in these events. The authors conducted a survey of 41 Virginia students, registered to participate in two cybersecurity competitions in November 2021 and in April 2022. The sample includes high-school and college students, who were asked questions which can be divided in three conceptual categories: 1) experience with prior cybersecurity competitions; 2) experience with the most recently attended one at the time of the survey; 3) interest in taking part in future ones. The results from the survey reveal some intriguing patterns regarding the students’ demographics, particularly regarding first-generation students, some benefits from the cybersecurity competitions, skills that such activities help develop, the most appealing aspects of them for students, and the opportunity to interact with people of a different race/ethnicity. A discussion of the results is provided along with recommendations how such competitions can be better organized to serve the needs of the participants and encourage them to pursue a career in the field.</p>