Enhancing Password Security in the Era of Advanced Cracking Techniques 

In an era where password-cracking tools are becoming increasingly sophisticated, ensuring strong personal password security is more critical than ever. Passwords serve as the first and most fundamental line of defense in protecting a user’s personal information. This project aims to explain password security, emphasize the importance of strong passwords, and raise awareness of common vulnerabilities. We will illustrate the weaknesses of weak passwords by presenting data on how easily common passwords can be cracked. Additionally, we will provide practical steps users can take to strengthen their personal security.

Jacob Grant is a senior CIS and Cybersecurity dual major with an emphasis on software development and political science at Lander University. He graduated from Mauldin High School in 2021 and has worked for two years as a student repair technician at Lander ITS. He has had two internships, one with Fuji Film and one with Hylaine, and has developed real world experience in the realm of software development and information technology.  

Elizabeth Tibbs is a senior Cybersecurity major with an emphasis on Computer Information Systems and a minor in Homeland Security. She graduated from D.W. Daniel Highschool in 2021. Her experience in Lander ITS as a student repair technician and as an Information Security intern at Primo Water has given her valuable hands-on experience in cybersecurity applications, such as CrowdStrike and Rapid7, and general IT hardware and software support. Additionally, she has experience in responding to cybersecurity incidents like phishing attacks, attempted brute force attacks, and ransomware.  

Cameron Garner is a senior at Lander University majoring in Cybersecurity with a minor in Business Administration and a concentration in Political Science. He graduated from Spartanburg High School in 2021. His experience starts back from his time at his high school technology center, and he has a better understanding of the world of Cybersecurity. Furthering his studies and skills not only while studying at Lander but also studying the work and responsibilities of Michelin’s CERT team, he now can understand different security problems arise and how to find solutions to better security and safety.  

Sarah Locke is a senior Computer Information Systems and Cybersecurity double major with an emphasis on software development and political science at Lander University. She has developed strong technical and analytical skills through her coursework in cybersecurity, programming, and information systems. Her academic experience has given her a solid foundation in software development and security concepts, which she continues to expand through personal projects and research. 

Understanding Modern Steganalysis

Steganography, the science of hiding information in plain sight, has been adapted for the digital world in the form of Digital Steganography. There are many legitimate use cases, such as watermarking, and there are many malicious steganographic use cases, such as embedding mal- ware in images. Thus, Digital Steganalysis, the science of recognizing digital steganography, has become more prominent. Three techniques, Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), Visual image Transform (ViT), and a hybrid, have recently been proposed to leverage Artificial Intel- ligence (AI) for detecting the presents of steganographic techniques. Our project utilizes these methods against multiple steganographic techniques in the hopes of comparing their efficacy.

Ryan Thornton is a Cybersecurity Political science major with Lander University. Ryan has had papers published with IEEE and the South Carolina Political Science Association. These papers covered a range of topics including hardware security, artificial intelligence, and Just War Theory. After Graduation, Ryan intends to pursue a graduate degree in computer science.

Maren White is a senior Cybersecurity major with an emphasis in CIS. Through her time at Lander, Maren has been a member of the Honors College and Women’s Soccer team. During the summer of 2024, she gained valuable experience as an IT Intern with Southern Crown Partners and currently holds an active secret security clearance.

Gavin Maybach is a senior cybersecurity major with an emphasis in CIS. He graduated from Hillcrest High School in 2019 and transferred from the University of South Carolina in 2020. He is also working on getting an internship to help him take his experience at Lander into the rest of the world

Bearcat Budget

Bearcat Budget is a web application that seeks to offer a cheaper open source option for small businesses that struggle with accurate bookkeeping. Due to being hosted on a web server, the program can either be accessible on a private network or publicly available if a business has multiple locations. Users will be able to enter their inventory, sales, and services into the application and receive analytical reports based on the aggregated data. The application uses two levels of privilege, normal users who can view the data for reports and admins who are responsible for maintaining the databases.

Spencer Halford is a senior CIS major with a minor in business administration. He graduated from Porter-Gaud School in 2021 and worked in Lander ITS for three years. He has worked for several companies in the technology field, such as Atlas Tech and The Office People.

Jacob Grant is a senior CIS and Cybersecurity dual major with an emphasis on software development and political science at Lander University. He graduated from Mauldin High School in 2021 and has worked for two years as a student repair technician at Lander ITS. He has had two internships, one with Fuji Film and one with Hylaine, and has developed real world experience in the realm of software development and information technology.

Ethan Richardson is a senior double major in CIS and Music Performance-Euphonium. He graduated from Greenwood High School in 202. He has worked 3 semesters at Lander ITS and served at different roles including Student Help Desk, Repair, and TRACs. He has also served 3 years as a Music Librarian for Lander Wind Ensemble and is on Lander’s Men’s Rugby Team.

Sarah Locke is a senior Computer Information Systems and Cybersecurity double major with an emphasis on software development and political science at Lander University. She has developed strong technical and analytical skills through her coursework in cybersecurity, programming, and information systems. Her academic experience has given her a solid foundation in software development and security concepts, which she continues to expand through personal projects and research. 

Predictive Injury Analysis of the NFL

The NFL is arguably the most dangerous sports league for an athletes physical health. In recent years, they have faced scrutiny in the rise in concussions that ultimately lead to CTE, a chronic brain disease. This project is designed to find common denominators that cause injury, such as the type of playing surface, weather, and amount of off days in between games. Using historical data we will implement a predictive injury model using linear regression algorithm to identify risk factors. The model will obtain an accuracy level up to 90%.

Daniel Prieto Diaz is from Ferrol, Spain. He graduated from IES Saturnino Montojo in 2021. Daniel is a senior CIS major with an emphasis on Software Development. Additionally he is minoring in Mathematics. He is part of the Men's Soccer Team. He has experience with web development and machine learning. 

Michael Nastro is a dual major in mathematics and computer information systems with an emphasis in networking from Mount Pleasant. He is part of both Lander’s Honors College and baseball team.

Xavier Holley a is Computer Science Major with a minor of Business Administration. Xavier is a  senior that attends Lander University was the President of the Lander's NAACP back in 2022-2023.

RaQuan Phelps is a Computer Science Major with an emphasis in Software Development from Orangeburg, SC. He is a former Lander University Resident Assistant from 2021-2023 and is now a Student Technician in the Lander IT Department.

Bearcat Board

Many schools utilize online platforms to connect students with potential employers, but these solutions often fail to effectively serve students’ specific needs. Popular job board platforms often create the impression that one must be exceptionally accomplished just to be considered, leaving many early-career professionals feeling discouraged. A more targeted, accessible solution is needed for those who are just starting out in their field. In this project, an exclusive job and internship platform tailored specifically for Lander students and alumni will be developed to bridge this gap. The platform will focus on local, remote, and alumni-shared job opportunities, ensuring that students have access to relevant and practical career options. Built with PostgreSQL for the database and JavaScript for both the front-end and back-end, the application will empower students and alumni to build meaningful connections and confidently advance their careers.

Ravon Cook is a graduate of Greenwood High School. She is a returning student currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Software Development with a minor in Cyber-security. After working in the medical field for a long time, she decided to change careers to the computer information systems field. After graduation, she plans to find a career in full-stack development.

Kelis Clark graduated from Greenwood High School in Greenwood, SC in 2021. She is currently a senior pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems with an emphasis in software development and a minor in Cybersecurity. She has been a member of the Honors College throughout her time at Lander and is on track to graduate Summa Cum Laude. Following graduation, she plans to embark on a career path as a web developer. 

Shelby McCullough graduated from Mid-Carolina High School in Prosperity, SC in 2021. From there, she went to Lander University for a degree in Computer Information Systems: Software Development. She has been working with Lander’s ITS department since the fall of 2021, held several roles of executive board of Full Colors: Spectrum since 2022, along with her classes. After graduation, she plans on going into the workforce for either a state or county agency. 

Caitlin Anderson graduated through the Greenwood Christian School Home Educators Association in 2019. She took dual enrollment classes at Lander University as a senior in high school, before continuing to become a full-time student there for a degree in Computer Information Systems with a software development emphasis. She held the vice president role of the Lander Technology Club for a year, and has been in the Honors College since enrollment. After graduation, she plans to work as a software developer, preferably working on video games.

CollabMate

In the modern college environment, students often face challenges when trying to find a partner for group projects, especially in larger classes where making connections can be difficult. This can lead to problems such as being paired with unmotivated classmates or dealing with uneven workloads. CollabMate is a new collaboration tool designed to help students connect with one another more easily and form effective teams. The platform allows users to create projects, track deadlines, and collaborate efficiently, reducing stress and promoting productivity. With CollabMate, students no longer have to worry about being randomly grouped and can focus more on learning and teamwork.

Ethan Gulledge graduated from Union Christian Day School in Union, SC. He is a senior student at Lander University studying in Computer Information Systems with an emphasis on Software Development. He plans to enter the workforce upon graduating in May 2025. 

Ryan Parra-Mendoza graduated from Newberry High School in Newberry, SC. He is studying Software Development at Lander University and a minor in Esports Management. He plans to take an internship and then enter the workforce after graduating in May 2025.

Brandon Pack graduated from Northside Christian Academy in Lexington, SC. He is studying computer information systems at Lander University with an emphasis in software development and a minor in cybersecurity. He interned with Lander’s esports program and is a member of the university’s esports team. He plans to enter the workforce after graduating in May 2025.

Christian Diamantis, graduated from Dorman High School in Roebuck SC. Now he is a student at Lander University pursuing a bachelor's degree in CIS with an emphasis on Software Development, along with a minor in Business Administration. In addition to his studies, He is an entrepreneur and the founder of Campaign Crushers, one of the largest marketing agencies in Greenwood SC.