Shadi Aityousee thought he knew what he was getting into befor applying to the 2026 ReliaQuest Labs program. He did his research, read articles, listened to the experiences of past students and attended information sessions.
But even as he was heading into the program’s graduation Friday, he was still processing how much he learned from the hands-on experience.
Aityousee was one of 60 students from the University of South Florida’s Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing who spent the last month tackling real-world cybersecurity challenges through the program. The group was recognized Friday during a graduation ceremony at the company headquarters in downtown Tampa.
Shadi Aityousee speaks during the 2026 ReliaQuest Labs graduation ceremony.
“I was surprised with how hands-on and how much work we were really doing with GreyMatter,” he said. “It was interesting to see the amount of material we covered in such a short time and the amount of material there is still to continue learning.”
The highly competitive program, which is a partnership between ReliaQuest and the USF’s Bellini College, provides students the opportunity to work through hands-on security scenarios, collaborate with industry professionals and gain experience using the same tools and processes found in modern security operations centers.
Throughout the program, students worked in teams to analyze threats, investigate simulated incidents and develop the practical skills needed to defend organizations from cyberattacks.
For many participants, the experience offered a glimpse into what a career in cybersecurity looks like beyond the classroom
“Working with the people at ReliaQuest was an impactful experience,” Aityousee said. “In a field where you are continuously learning, having a mentor or peer available to ask questions and receive help from throughout the program is extremely helpful. It was particularly inspiring to speak with professionals who had once been in the same position, having been part of ReliaQuest Labs, and seeing how it helped them grow professionally was highly motivating. This kind of insight and advice is something unique to the industry and something you don’t usually receive in a typical classroom setting.”
Applications for the program were up more than 35% from 2025, which reflected student interest in the field, with only about a third of applicants advancing to in-person interviews.
More than 300 USF students have graduated from the ReliaQuest Labs program since it began in 2018, originally led by the Muma College of Business but open to students of any major. Participants receive a Certificate of Completion in Cyber Analytic Fundamentals and can interview for either a paid internship or full-time position with ReliaQuest.
That exposure included seeing how ReliaQuest integrates emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, into its security operations.
“The world of technology has rapidly changed over the course of the past few years,” Aityousee said. “As artificial intelligence has become more prominent in day-to-day use, it was interesting to see how ReliaQuest leverages this new technology in their GreyMatter platform to help increase productivity and efficiency. The past few years there has been uncertainty about the future of various fields and positions due to the growth of AI, but after being a part of ReliaQuest Labs and seeing how they leverage AI to streamline tasks which frees up time and allows for more specialized work. This perspective has given me a positive insight into what the future of cybersecurity will be in the years to come.”
After a month of hands-on work and industry mentorship, Aityousee said the program left a lasting impression.
“If you’re on the edge of wondering whether cybersecurity is the right path for you, I would highly recommend ReliaQuest Labs,” he added. “It offers an amazing opportunity to get hands-on experience and experience cybersecurity in a real-world environment. You have the opportunity to work with supportive mentors who have been in similar situations as you, which is incredibly reassuring. They’re eager to help others improve and share their knowledge.”
You can find the photos from the graduation here: Graduation Photos