Security · software · education
I build places for students to practice cybersecurity, from live competitions to hands-on workshops and the software that supports them.
Explore selected work01 / Selected work
Events, tools, and teaching with a real audience.
A student-led hybrid CTF and hackathon at Independence High School, built for high school students to learn, compete, and make things together.
My contribution As part of the leadership team, I worked on event infrastructure, challenges, scoring, school outreach, sponsors, logistics, and on-site teaching.
Where it stands The first event ran in 2026. The team has an archive of photographs and coverage, and planning for a 2027 event is underway.
A simulated chemical plant used to teach industrial control security through hands-on practice.
My contribution I instructed the workshop across three hands-on sessions.
Result The lab was delivered live to students at a cybersecurity summit.
Hands-on sessions
in industrial control security
Independent projects & programs
A story-driven cybersecurity learning campaign for upper-elementary and middle school students. Its missions cover topics from phishing and account safety to network defense and forensics.
My first C++ program: a log analyzer that identifies suspicious activity. The public version filters by severity, user, IP, and keyword; I’m working on a GUI and more advanced filtering.
My Congressional App Challenge project, exploring a debate tool for checking claims, examining evidence, and identifying fallacies while keeping discussion civil.
Recruited members and built lesson plans and hands-on workshops, helping move meetings toward practice and competitions.
Built auditing and hardening scripts for CyberPatriot, where my team reached the semifinals three times.
02 / Selected record
IndyHAX held its inaugural event. Part of the four-person student leadership team.
↗First overall at a GMU drone cybersecurity competition. A team result across security and drone challenges.
↗Covered in Loudoun Now. Reporting on the student-led summit and IndyHAX.
↗Interviewed by EdWeek Market Brief. Shared a student perspective on education technology.
↗03 / About
I’m a student at Independence High School in Northern Virginia. I care about making technical subjects accessible: building challenges people can learn from, running the systems behind an event, and teaching in a room where students can try things for themselves.
I’m also interested in how security connects with law and public policy. Mock Trial and volunteer tutoring have shaped how I explain ideas and work with a team.
04 / Contact
For collaborations, workshops, or questions about the work, email is the best place to start.
dasalalitheshwar@gmail.com