JEFFERSON TWP — A team of six Knoch High School students will not advance to the next round in the CyberPatriot program.

The students, who are coached by computer science teacher Laura Gaston, compete at finding vulnerabilities in the simulated computer systems of imitation companies.

The CyberPatriot program is a national youth cyber education program created by the Air Force Association to inspire students toward careers in cyber security or other science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, according to the CyberPatriot website.

The Knoch team, which competed for the first time this year, completed rounds one and two in November and December, and scored in the top 75 percent.

They scored 165 in the recent state competition. The lowest score accepted to advance to the national level was 173.

Gaston planned to present the students with certificates and medals Friday. She said she was very pleased with the team's showing in its first try in the CyberPatriot competition.

“I am sure we will only improve,” Gaston said.