Free Inaugural TEKCON conference bringing tech enthusiasts to LCCC

CHEYENNE, Wyoming – TEKCON, a free immersive technology festival at Laramie County Community College this spring, will help attendees build skills and spark their curiosity in information technology.

The public is invited to the free event, including students, vendors, industry leaders, employers and current or aspiring tech workers. Registration is available at lccctekcon.com.

The inaugural TEKCON, hosted by LCCC’s Information Technology Pathway and student club TEK Club, starts at 10 a.m. Apr. 18 in the Flex Tech Building on the college’s Cheyenne campus. The free event will run through 6 p.m., with check-in available until 5:30 p.m.

Students in grades 7–12 who are interested in technology are especially encouraged to attend. Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Attendees won’t just watch technology happen or listen to lectures — LCCC’s IT enthusiasts are turning the Flextech Building into a cyberpunk playground where they can splice fiber optics, hack a model city and build hardware. Built around "Technology Villages" that are interactive hubs, attendees can learn everything from cybersecurity and coding to hardware engineering and radio communications through direct experience.

Participants will also have opportunities to compete for scholarships and high-end technology prizes.

The TEKCON Championship is a high-energy competition where students and tech enthusiasts put their skills to the test. Participants will earn points by completing challenges within the various villages, such as the RJ45 speed crimping, PC building or the Capture the Flag (CTF) challenge. The individuals or school teams with the highest scores will be given the TEKCON Trophy to display at their school.

Cheyenne’s rapidly expanding technology sector’s biggest barrier to growth is finding a qualified workforce to fill jobs, said JT Haskell, LCCC Cybersecurity and IT instructor. LCCC’s IT Pathway, he said, is helping to solve that dilemma and invites the community to have a first-hand look at programs that are changing the game.

“Come to campus and see exactly what our students are capable of,” Haskell said. “If your company is looking to hire, or if you want a direct say in the skills your future workforce is learning, you need to be here.”

LCCC’s Information Technology Program prepares students for entry-level roles in cybersecurity, networking and systems administration with an emphasis on hands-on training. Students learn everything from server management and telecommunications systems to mobile and web applications, earning multiple credit diplomas and nationally recognized certifications before they graduate.

The Cybersecurity Program is elite, designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) by the National Security Agency (NSA), a recognition considered the gold standard for cybersecurity education. The designation means the curriculum meets rigorous national workforce standards and opens doors to federal scholarships, direct hiring pathways with defense and intelligence agencies and seamless credit transfer to other recognized programs.

Go to lccc.wy.edu/IT for more information about LCCC’s IT Pathway.