Alden Pinkston: Freshman making big waves at Ivy Tech

Alden Pinkston didn’t wait long to make his mark at Ivy Tech. A freshman cybersecurity and information assurance major at Ivy Tech Valparaiso, Pinkston is already distinguishing himself as a motivated student, collaborative teammate, and emerging leader. In just his first year, he has earned statewide and national recognition, stepped into campus leadership roles, and found a community that continues to fuel his passion for technology.

On Friday, Nov. 7, Pinkston was part of the team that placed first overall at Ivy Tech’s statewide interdisciplinary IT Challenge in Indianapolis. More than 300 students from Ivy Tech campuses across Indiana participated in the all-day competition, which began with morning sessions divided into four skill-based categories representing eight academic disciplines.

Pinkston’s team competed in the Information Technology Support and Network Infrastructure category during the morning round. The top teams from each category advanced to the afternoon interdisciplinary challenge, where students were required to work together across disciplines to solve complex, real-world problems.

“It was nerve-wracking at first,” Pinkston admitted. “Everyone was in this huge conference room trying to find teammates. Once we started working, it was a lot of fun. I was really happy with how my team did.”

The interdisciplinary round pushed students outside their comfort zones, requiring teamwork, adaptability, and communication, qualities Pinkston says he values most.

“That’s what the statewide challenge was really about,” he said. “You’re given a task, and you have to figure it out with your team.”

Several students from the Ivy Tech Valparaiso campus attended the competition alongside Pinkston, including Elijah Poninski, Jordan Driemeyer, Aiden Lineberry, Wren Bradley, Hayden Minix, and Kegan Rees. Pinkston said meeting students from other campuses and collaborating under pressure was one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.

This wasn’t Pinkston’s first competitive success. Over the summer, he ranked sixth in the nation during the CyberPatriot Summer Boot Camp and Capture the Flag event hosted at Ivy Tech Valparaiso. The week-long program immersed students in hands-on learning before concluding with a national competition.

Pinkston credits much of his growth to the mentorship he’s received at Ivy Tech, particularly from Professor Rami Salahieh, whom he describes as a major influence.

“He’s very passionate about what he does,” Pinkston said. “He’s very experienced, and he works incredibly hard for his students. He’s great at training new people, and that really inspires me.”

Outside the classroom, Pinkston is heavily involved in student organizations. He currently serves as co-vice president of Cyber Gladiators, one of three IT-centered clubs at the Valparaiso campus. The club works closely with Code Ninjas and Women in Cybersecurity, with leadership members attending one another’s meetings to stay connected and collaborative.

“We’re finding opportunities for competitions and conferences,” Pinkston said. “We’re managing funding so our members can go with us, gain experience, meet people, and do some networking.”

Pinkston encourages new students, especially freshmen, to get involved early and take on leadership roles when possible.

“My favorite parts of Ivy Tech are the clubs and the community,” he said. “I met most of my good friends through the clubs. There are really great people here doing really outstanding things.”

From building go-karts for races at the track in Indianapolis to creating websites to troubleshooting and debugging programs, Pinkston has no lack of creativity. He enjoys hands-on projects that allow him to learn by doing. One of his current favorite initiatives is developing practice labs for Cyber Gladiators members designed to give students a space to build skills and prepare for competitions.

“I’ve always liked technology,” Pinkston said. “What I want to do is find new technology, see what I can do to break it, and then figure out how to fix it before it goes to the public.”

It’s a good thing Pinkston is so tech-savvy because he’s currently attending his classes online. Pinkston is from La Porte, but a few months ago moved to Muncie with his parents. He’s taking online classes there, but Valpo remains his home. Pinkston stays connected to his clubs and classes with regular Zoom calls, but for big events like the competitions or social gatherings, he attends in person. Last weekend, he got to come up to the Region for their Christmas party at Zao Island.

Looking ahead, Pinkston has big plans. After completing his associate degree, he hopes to pursue a career in cybersecurity, with interests ranging from national service to working in the private sector. Long-term, he’s considering continuing his education and earning a master’s degree.

For now, Pinkston remains focused on learning, leading, and seizing every opportunity, a mindset that has already set him apart early in his college journey.

To learn more about resources available for students, faculty, and staff at Ivy Tech Valparaiso, visit ivytech.edu.