For Immediate Release
January 5, 2026

Suffolk County Community College Cybersecurity Students Earn National Recognition in National Cyber League Competition

(Left to Right) Suffolk County Community College Cybersecurity students and team members Gabriel Liquori, Garrett Alpers, Maksym Tomenchuk, Miles Hannaford. For a hi-res image, visit: https://photos.app.goo.gl/3YMRjXC4zWhD5zex7

Students and faculty from Suffolk County Community College’s Cybersecurity program were nationally recognized for their performance in the National Cyber League (NCL) Fall 2025 competition season.

The National Cyber League is a learning-centered competition that challenges students with real-world cybersecurity tasks commonly performed by professionals in the field. Through individual and team-based events, participants apply classroom knowledge to hands-on scenarios such as system analysis, threat detection, and cybersecurity defense, while earning detailed skills reports that demonstrate workforce readiness to prospective employers.

Suffolk team members Garret Alpers, Michael Gomez, Anthony D’Gracia, Arshad Nanan, Miles Hannaford, Hannan Ahmad, Maksym Tomenchuk, Cody Buckland, Charley Fernandez, Julio Colado, Justin Gebbia and Gabriel Liquori exhibited dedication, enthusiasm and skills that align with industry-recognized CompTIA Security+ competencies and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) frameworks.

Coached by Jonathan Sadowski, Cybersecurity Club Advisor and Specialist/ Adjunct Instructor, Suffolk County Community College students competed against more than 8,520 students from 490 colleges and universities nationwide, earning a #27 national ranking in the NCL Cyber Power Rankings for the fall 2025 season. Garrett Alpers received a Diamond Award for his top Performance across both the Individual and Team rounds of the competition.

 “This national recognition and top-30 finish reflects the strength of Suffolk’s cybersecurity curriculum and the dedication of our students,” said Jonathan Sadowski, cybersecurity faculty member and team coach. “Their success in a highly competitive national field demonstrates not only their technical skills, but also their ability to collaborate, adapt, and perform under real-world conditions—preparing them for careers in this rapidly evolving field.”

The students’ performance showcased both individual technical expertise and strong collaborative problem-solving skills, key competencies sought by today’s cybersecurity employers. Their success also highlights Suffolk County Community College’s continued commitment to preparing students for high-demand careers through experiential learning opportunities.

To learn more about Suffolk County Community College’s Cybersecurity program, visit sunysuffolk.edu/cybersecurity.

About Suffolk County Community College

Suffolk County Community College is the largest, most comprehensive community college in the State University of New York (SUNY) system, enrolling more than 26,000 students in over 100 degree and certificate programs. With approximately 145,000 alumni, Suffolk County Community College is dedicated to meeting the demands of regional employers. The college has built an extensive track record of successfully training and educating its students through pathways from high school to college and into careers.