The Community College of Rhode Island’s Cybersecurity Club has established itself as one of the best in the country after a strong showing at the National Cyber League fall 2025 competition.
CCRI placed 29th nationally out of 490 colleges and universities in the final Cyber Power Rankings for the fall season. The college ranked second among all schools in New England, second among all community colleges and 12th among all schools in the East region.
“The CCRI Cybersecurity Club’s achievement in the National Cyber League competition is a tremendous source of pride for our entire community,” said CCRI President Rosemary A. Costigan. “This strong showing is a direct testament to the talent and dedication of our students, the expert guidance from our faculty and the rigorous preparation the club undertakes.”
Coached by Cybersecurity Program director Michael Kelly and adjunct faculty member Joe Bransfield, CCRI students participated in individual and team-based events. The club features two teams: the Cyber Knights and the Cyber Cavalry.
The Cyber Knights team members were Corey Davis of West Warwick, Maria Monteiro of Woonsocket, Gabriel Nahod of Warwick, Zachary Hartmann of Barrington, Matthew Mitrelis of Coventry, Elias Marcotte of Pascoag and Caleb Carr of East Greenwich.
The Cyber Cavalry team members were Cloud Creegan of West Warwick, Wade Chmielinski of North Smithfield, John Gillard of Newport, Reichard Vega of North Providence, Peter Yrchik-Shoemaker of Wakefield, Damian Raposa of Warwick and Daniel Buckman of Coventry.
Davis, the club vice president, said the fall season saw increased interest in the program.
“We ended up with two full teams of seven this semester,” he said. “Cyber Cavalry was entirely new to NCL but had some really great leadership, participation and drive.”
Numerous events and meetings, including weekly “Cyber Saturday” sessions at the Newport County Campus, helped prepare the teams for the national stage.
“The club did an excellent job of bringing new faces, including me,” said Gillard, who led the Cyber Cavalry. “I think getting club members involved with events helped maintain the momentum they built.”
The National Cyber League has students perform real-world cybersecurity tasks that translate to the workforce. NCL Commissioner David Zeichick commended CCRI for its efforts during the fall competition season.
The CCRI Cybersecurity Club prepares students for the industry on a professional and social level. In addition to competing in national competitions, students meet to discuss cyber news and participate in other cybersecurity-related activities. The club welcomes all students.