Photo by I.C. Murrell, Pine Bluff Commercial senior reporter
By David Hehemann
Pine Bluff, Ark. – May 21, 2025 – James Houston, who leads the program that hosts the annual event, said the primary goal of Hacktopia is to help teachers and students develop a comfort the with subject matter of cybersecurity.
“Often, when people hear the term ‘cybersecurity,’ the first thing they think is ‘danger,’”
he said. “This is why developing a familiarity with the subject is so important. I want teachers who decide to sign up for our program to leave thinking, ‘Not only can I teach this, but this will be something students can utilize in the future.’”
In Arkansas, cybersecurity is considered a high-wage, high-demand field, Houston said.
However, the ability for students to move through the ranks and get a high-level job is a little more complicated. He believes that if students do not have the access to seeing firsthand how cybersecurity functions, they will not be sufficiently equipped for entering the field.
Houston said another issue with cybersecurity is talent drain. Some graduates end up moving to states such as New York, Texas or Florida, which offer a bigger job market and higher wages. However, not everyone wants to go to California for a job – some want to stay in their hometowns.”
“With that in mind, the overall goal of Enterceptor is to assist in the grassroots effort of developing local cybersecurity communities in Arkansas,” Houston said. “The backbone of everyone’s business is the internet – just think of your local dentist, animal clinic or pharmacy.
Any small business you can name, they are an economic support of the community. They need cybersecurity professionals to keep their business interests safe. In turn, this assists the community.”
Houston said Hacktopia allows him to get youth in communities across Arkansas engaged in this important field. The ones who discover a passion for cybersecurity will likely go on to pursue an education in it. Then they can return to their communities and assist in maintaining the financial health and business security of their hometowns.
“We specifically reach out to students in sixth to eighth grade,” he said. “In my opinion, this is the ideal age range when youth are not scared of trying new things and are open to new challenges.”
He hopes that middle schoolers who participate in Hacktopia will leave with an excitement for the subject matter. “I hope students who go on to take a computer science class in high school say, ‘I have been waiting to take this class because of Hacktopia,’” he said.
Houston believes the program will continue to grow from year to year.
“Arkansas teachers should remember that any class can participate – it doesn’t just have to be computer science classes,” he said. “I’ve had family and consumer sciences classes that attended, math teachers as well. One school let almost all their students complete.
So, I would encourage any teachers to give our program a try and feel proud they are equipping students with invaluable experience and also helping to strengthen Arkansas by growing its cybersecurity talent.
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