ASU SCETL Team Wins Top Honors at Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge

Building on a growing tradition of excellence in cyber policy, students from the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership (SCETL) recently competed in the 2025 Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge in Washington, D.C., and returned home with a major win.

SCETL student Spencer James Stenholm, along with teammates Valentina Veynberg, Vivek Sura Venkata, and Jack Silver, represented Arizona State University at a prestigious competition hosted by the Atlantic Council, a premier international security and policy think tank. The ASU team earned the award for Best Oral Policy Brief, standing out among participants from top-tier institutions such as Harvard, Yale, and West Point.

The Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge is a one-of-a-kind competition where students step into the shoes of policy advisors during a simulated international cyber crisis. Over the course of two days, they must quickly analyze rapidly evolving scenarios and present policy recommendations before a panel of cybersecurity and national security experts.

For Spencer Stenholm, the experience was transformative.

“This experience significantly enhanced my skills in policy analysis, strategic communication, and interdisciplinary collaboration,” he said. “Our team's approach emphasized Federalism and Accountability whilst carefully refining our language and content to meet the high standards of expert judges.”

Stenholm credited the month-long preparation period, supported by SCETL faculty and resources, with helping the team develop the skills needed to craft a nuanced, well-researched policy proposal.

“The competition provided an exceptional platform for hands-on policy development, where we were challenged to create impactful solutions,” he wrote. “Winning Best Oral Policy Brief validated our collaborative effort and emphasized the power of clear, strategic communication.”

Now in its second year of participation, SCETL continues to grow its presence in the field of cyber policy. Guided by SCETL faculty, the program has established a strong foundation that integrates civic thought with emerging technology policy—an innovative fusion that sets ASU’s approach to cybersecurity education apart.

Looking ahead, SCETL continues to explore new opportunities to support students interested in cyber policy and strategic thinking. Faculty leaders are working closely with students to develop a network of resources—including a student-led organization—to prepare future teams for the Cyber 9/12 Challenge and build a lasting interdisciplinary community at ASU focused on the intersection of technology, governance, and national security.