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Baldwin Middle and Upper School Students Explore Ethical Hacking
In April, Director of Technology and Upper School Cybersecurity & Ethical Hacking Teacher Dr. Thomas Heverin ran live ethical hacking workshops with Addison Lilholt’s 7th Grade Computer Science classes — and the students were blown away! During the sessions, they discovered just how easy it can be to find real-world vulnerabilities in devices like printers, classroom-display systems and security cameras. Following Drexel University’s official bug bounty program rules, the students even ethically hacked into printers on Drexel’s network. Their excitement was contagious as they realized they were using the same skills and techniques as professional ethical hackers. It was an unforgettable introduction to the world of cybersecurity!
Meanwhile, in the Upper School, The University of Pennsylvania’s Office of Information Security Team recently visited Dr. Heverin’s Cybersecurity and Ethical Hacking classes for an inspiring experience. The UPenn team shared real-world insights into the challenges of protecting a major university from cyberattacks and emphasized the critical role of continuous learning in the cybersecurity field. Baldwin students had the opportunity to showcase their talents, presenting two research papers they published and sharing live results of vulnerabilities they identified on UPenn’s network. The UPenn team was amazed by the students’ accomplishments and praised their exceptional level of engagement and professionalism. It was a powerful reminder that the next generation of cybersecurity leaders is already making an impact!
In a field where women are underrepresented, Vanguard’s commitment to fostering meaningful opportunities, such as a site visit, for these young women underscores their confidence in the essential and lasting contributions Baldwin students are poised to make. This budding partnership, which Jane Shissler (P ’27), Associate General Counsel, The Office of the General Counsel at Vanguard, initiated, serves as an inspiring reminder to our community of the bright future ahead for our students.
This fall, Dr. Heverin and students from his “Cybersecurity and Ethical Hacking” and “Artificial Intelligence and Society” classes visited Vanguard for an engaging discussion with senior leaders in cybersecurity and fraud detection. The students gained valuable insights into how Vanguard mitigates millions of cyberattacks daily and employs cutting-edge strategies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to combat sophisticated fraud attempts.
During the visit, Baldwin students had the opportunity to hear from Grant Pate, Vanguard’s Global Head of Cybersecurity Operations; Vanessa Richards, Vanguard’s leader in Global Site Security and Fraud Prevention; and other key members of Vanguard’s cybersecurity team. The professionals shared real-world stories that offered a compelling glimpse into their high-stakes, operational work.
In turn, the Baldwin students showcased their own expertise by sharing their hands-on experiences in ethical hacking and AI prompt injection research. Their skills and engagement earned high praise from Vanguard’s senior leaders, who were impressed by the girls’ technical knowledge, critical thinking and enthusiasm.
