Highlights
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UCF鈥檚 Collegiate Cybersecurity Competition Team (C3) has established itself as one of the nation鈥檚 most successful collegiate cybersecurity programs, preparing students to compete and lead in cybersecurity.
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After more than a decade coaching the Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition team, UCF alum and lecturer Thomas Nedorost 鈥�02 is making the team鈥檚 largest planned gift to date, investing in the next generation of cyber champions.
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Nedorost’s gift highlights the importance 色花堂鈥檚 , fueling student success, elevating competitive excellence and helping shape a bold tomorrow.
As coach 色花堂鈥檚 championship Collegiate Cybersecurity Competition Team (C3), Thomas Nedorost 鈥�02 keeps his eye on the prize 鈥� but not just the trophies.
For Nedorost, a management information systems alum, the real prize is seeing his students and C3 team members become trailblazers, land top industry jobs, build successful careers and pave the way for other Knights.
A senior lecturer in UCF鈥檚 , Nedorost has coached C3 to 15 national championships in 14 years. The team has finished among the top three in 198 competitions, earning 123 first-place wins along the way.
UCF has one of the nation’s most successful collegiate cybersecurity programs, with its competition team winning 15 national championships in the last 14 years.
C3 members compete against top universities worldwide, putting their cybersecurity defense skills to the test by protecting systems against simulated threats.
Nedorost, who built the program from the ground up, is proud of what his teams have achieved over the years, and he sees the impact of their success in the opportunities that come their way.
鈥淏ecause of the experience they get on C3, team members end up in fantastic internships in the field, and when they graduate, most of them skip over entry-level jobs and land roles at that next level, along with some impressive salaries. So, their career prospects are really strong,” Nedorost says.
Fostering Excellence, Investing with Impact
Even with the team鈥檚 consistent success, funding has remained an ongoing challenge.
鈥淲e have struggled from day one 鈥� not in finding talent or space, but in acquiring computer equipment and funds for airfare, hotels, meals and other operational expenses,鈥� Nedorost says.
The university鈥檚 Collegiate Cyber Defense Fund through the has been a source of support, thanks to the generosity of individual donors, as well as several companies and organizations.
That support has helped C3 compete at the highest level. But Nedorost knows that long-term success requires long-term investment.
So, he鈥檚 making one himself.
Nedorost is making a planned gift to support future C3 teams. By including the program in his estate plans, he鈥檚 creating a legacy that鈥檒l continue investing in the next generation of cybersecurity talent long after his coaching career ends.
His commitment represents the largest single gift to C3 to date.
鈥淢y hope is that this will always be a strong program, and that future team members will continue to compete at an elite level, become leaders in the industry and always feel like they have a place in the community we鈥檝e built,鈥� Nedorost says.
Building Greatness
C3 began when former information technology major Jonathan Singer 鈥�13 approached Nedorost during his first semester as a UCF instructor and proposed entering the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CDCC).
Nedorost had a background in management information systems and had served as an adjunct instructor at Valencia College and UCF, but he didn鈥檛 have experience in cybersecurity. He gave Singer the go-ahead to hold an interest meeting.
When 86 students showed up, Nedorost knew they were onto something.
The Collegiate Cyber Defense Club was born, and Nedorost began building a team from among its members, focusing on elevating UCF’s competitive excellence in this emerging field.
鈥淒uring the live competitions, I can鈥檛 help them. They have to rely on what they鈥檝e learned in class, what they鈥檝e seen and done before, and what they’ve practiced as a team,” Nedorost says.
In its first year, with just eight members, the team won the Southeast CCDC regional competition. That victory earned the team a trip to nationals, where it finished 10th.
These days, Nedorost fields a team of 25 to 27 students each year, from which he builds competition rosters. C3 has won six CDCC national competitions since those early years 鈥� more than any other team in the competition’s history.
“Like any winning team, we put our top talent in the competition. And meanwhile, I’m always recruiting so that we have a strong bench for the future,鈥� Nedorost says.
Fostering Community, Opening Doors
As he has built the program, Nedorost has also created a community that supports each other.
Experienced C3 members serve as speakers at club meetings and lead workshops to help other students. Program alumni return to help Nedorost coach the team, mentor students, serve as guest lecturers and even sponsor meals during local competitions.
Those alumni connections also open doors to internships and jobs as former team members advance in their own careers.
The rise in cybercrime in recent years has fueled demand for cybersecurity professionals, creating a significant gap between the number of skilled workers and available positions. The United States has more than 1.3 million cybersecurity professionals 鈥� the largest cybersecurity workforce in the world today 鈥� with more than 500,000 open positions in the field (Programs.com 2026 report).
UCF is preparing students to help fill that gap.
Designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education, UCF attracts talented students passionate about the field.
Nedorost is part of that success. In addition to serving as C3 coach and faculty advisor to the Collegiate Cyber Defense Club, he directs UCF鈥檚 and teaches courses including Cyber Defense Analysis and Topics in Cybersecurity.
Investments like Nedorost’s highlight the importance 色花堂鈥檚 Go For Launch campaign: Investing in students to elevate their competitive excellence and shape a bold tomorrow.
