Michael Pry, a professor in the Information Technology and Cybersecurity programs at Pitt Greensburg, returned to Pitt CyberCamp for his second year as an instructor — and this time, he brought someone special along for the ride: his son.
A friend and fellow instructor originally recruited Pry to teach at CyberCamp, which is hosted each summer by Pitt Digital and Pitt Cyber. He quickly discovered how rewarding it was to translate the same cybersecurity concepts that he teaches college students into interactive, engaging experiences for high schoolers. “It was a great deal of fun,” Pry said. “There was a lot of excitement around it and we worked together as a team.”
This year, the camp experience took on new meaning. Now that his son is in ninth grade and already interested in IT and cybersecurity, Pry invited him to attend the camp. “Back during COVID, when I was giving lectures from home, he would listen in,” Pry said. “Eventually, he started to explore all things IT on his own.” The camp was a perfect opportunity to nurture that early curiosity.
Bringing Cybersecurity to Life
Pry’s approach to teaching is all about making cybersecurity relevant to students at all experience levels. “You want to make it relatable,” he explained. “We bring up current events and real-world examples. We start with the basics — what is cybersecurity? Then we ask: Has anyone been hacked? Had personal information stolen? Do you know someone who has?”
This year, Pry and the other instructors tied in recent local events, including the hacking of the Aliquippa Water Authority by an Iranian military-linked group, to show how cybersecurity impacts critical infrastructure. Students also explored how the student records platform PowerSchool was hacked and the tactics used in that attack. “We want to stir their curiosity by connecting the lessons to their personal lives,” Pry said.
Lessons Beyond the Tech
For Pry, cybersecurity education goes beyond code and firewalls. It’s about developing a well-rounded skillset. “We talk about the importance of soft skills — critical thinking, problem-solving,” he said. “Sometimes the answer isn’t right in front of you. That’s something we hope the students took away from this experience.”
He also emphasizes ethics in cybersecurity. “It’s important for students to understand what they should and shouldn’t do with what they learn. Just because you have the skills doesn’t mean you use them without thinking about the consequences.”
Another hot topic this year? Artificial intelligence. “We discussed how AI should be viewed as a coworker — something you can collaborate with, but not something to over-rely on. You always need a human in the middle,” Pry added.
Building Skills and Friendships
This year’s camp introduced students to a new version of Linux — Linux Mint — and new cybersecurity tools. The team also launched the week with a session on careers in cybersecurity, giving students a foundation for understanding the many paths available in the field.
“We used that session to frame the rest of the week,” Pry said. “We talked about the operating systems used in cybersecurity and how those relate to jobs in the industry. We even discussed future careers in AI data centers and how technology is evolving.”
Pry’s son had a blast, enjoying both the hands-on cybersecurity lessons and the chance to make new friends. “They’ll keep in touch, and he already wants to come back next year — for the advanced camp,” Pry said with a smile.
Looking Ahead
From a father-son bonding opportunity to a professional development experience, CyberCamp was a hit for both generations of Prys. “It’s really great exposure,” Pry said. “To get students thinking about what they want to do with their future is invaluable. For my son and me, it’s been a great experience—and we’ll definitely be back next year. Even for the adults, it was a fantastic week.”
-- Haree Lim, Pitt IT Student Blogger, Class of '25
