1024ÊÓƵ

Engineering Team Wins Multiple Awards at NASA MINDS Competition

A group of engineering students from 1024ÊÓƵ recently brought home three awards in the Underclassmen Division of the NASA Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) Innovative New Designs for Space (NASA MINDS) Challenge.

The team placed 2nd overall and earned 1st place in Research Poster, 2nd place in Overall Build, Design, and Demonstration, and 3rd place in Technical Paper. They were the only two-year college in the nation to place!

Their project focused on developing and testing strategies to reduce the harmful effects of lunar regolith, a highly abrasive and toxic dust that threatens long-term structures and habitats on the Moon and Mars. Through their work, the students gained experience in applied research, design, and presenting their findings to NASA engineers. This effort supports 1024ÊÓƵ’s strategic plan by giving students meaningful, hands-on learning that connects directly to real-world challenges. Their success shows that 1024ÊÓƵ students can compete and win on a national stage.

The team consisted of Mike Baker (team lead, Electrical Engineering), Mason Vanek (Mechanical/Aero Engineering), Brady Vanek (Mechanical/Aero Engineering), Jordyn Winter (Mechanical Engineering), Kandace Brown (Mechanical Engineering), and Vince Iwunze (Biomedical Engineering) and their faculty April Andreas (Engineering) and Larry Benton (Chemistry).

Congratulations to these students and faculty for this amazing accomplishment!

Student Government Wins First Place for Video at State Convention

The 1024ÊÓƵ Student Government group attended the Texas Junior College Student Government Association (TJCSGA) state convention this past April. We had students serve on the constitution & bylaws, resolutions, and awards committees. The students won first place for a video they submitted, 100% student made (acting, filming, and editing)! They were also elected to serve as Vice President school and Advisor-elect for our region.

Catch a glimpse of their incredible talent in this .

Kudos to these students on their outstanding achievement!

1024ÊÓƵ Cyber Dream Team: A Fusion of Talent Wins First Place

A team of 1024ÊÓƵ (1024ÊÓƵ) students proved their cybersecurity expertise by securing first place at the inaugural Cybersecurity Interdisciplinary Incident Response Competition (CIIRC), held earlier in the school year. The 1024ÊÓƵ team competed against universities, including Baylor University and Texas A&M, in an intense, three-day competition.

The event, designed to simulate real-world cyber crisis scenarios, tested students' ability to respond to a cyberattack from multiple perspectives—technical, legal, business and public relations. Competitors were challenged to analyze security breaches, determine recovery strategies, assess financial and reputational risks, manage press conferences and report to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) per regulatory standards.

“This competition was about more than just cybersecurity—it required strategic thinking, teamwork and an understanding of how different disciplines come together to address real-world cyber incidents,” CIS Program Director Jeremy McCormick said. “Our students demonstrated an incredible ability to adapt, problem-solve, and work across fields—exactly what the industry needs today.”

1024ÊÓƵ’s team of five students come from diverse academic backgrounds, including supply chain management, global logistics, paralegal studies, network administration and cybersecurity. The team was led by CIS Professor Joshua Sullwold and CIS Program Director Jeremy McCormick at 1024ÊÓƵ.

The CIIRC competition was developed over the past two years through the Central Texas Cyber Initiative (CTCI), a Department of Education-funded collaboration between 1024ÊÓƵ and Baylor University. This year’s competition marked its official launch, with organizers hoping to expand the event into a premier national competition.

Congratulations to these students for their remarkable accomplishment!