Cybersecurity student Emery Rios receives Norman Miles award for academic excellence for top performance at RIT

Rochester, New York – When cybersecurity student Emery Rios first saw the email telling them they had won a prestigious award from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), their instinct was to treat it with caution. In the world of cybersecurity, suspicious messages can often be phishing scams. But after some quick verification, Rios confirmed that this was one message they could safely open — and celebrate.

Rios, who is pursuing an accelerated BS/MS degree in cybersecurity, has been named the recipient of the Norman A. Miles Award for Academic Excellence in Study for the 2025–2026 academic year. The honor is awarded to an RIT student who began their education at the university as a first-year student, is entering their final undergraduate year, and has achieved the highest grade point average across all programs. Recommendations from academic deans are also taken into account when selecting the winner.

“It was definitely a surprise,” Rios recalled, still reflecting on the moment they learned of the award. The recognition comes with a scholarship and the opportunity to acknowledge a faculty member who played a significant role in the student’s academic journey. For Rios, the choice was clear: Professor Yin Pan of the Department of Cybersecurity.

Read also: Pittsford prepares to close out summer concert series for kids this Wednesday with a special performance by Mike Kornrich

“Professor Pan is so caring, understanding, and truly wants students to succeed,” said Rios. “She is really deserving of this award for the impact she has made on every student, not just me.” Pan, in turn, spoke highly of Rios’s drive and curiosity. “Emery stood out right away, always asking insightful questions and an enthusiasm to learn new things,” she said.

Rios’s interest in cybersecurity began in high school, thanks to a special program that introduced them to the field. They were also inspired by Penelope Garcia, the quirky technical analyst on the television series Criminal Minds. “Digital forensics can be like a crime scene investigation, but doing it on a device,” Rios explained. That fascination eventually led them to RIT, where they immersed themselves in challenging coursework and hands-on projects.

Among the highlights of their academic experience was a social engineering class that included a tailgating security assessment, as well as a USB baiting attack field experiment later presented at a cybersecurity conference. In Pan’s advanced computer forensics course, Rios excelled during a group project analyzing open-source cloud forensics tools — identifying gaps and exploring modifications to better support forensic investigations in cloud environments. Pan was so impressed that she awarded Rios a perfect score. “I gave them a 100,” Pan said. “That is very unusual, but I couldn’t pick out anything unsatisfactory.”

Rios’s contributions to the program extend beyond the classroom. They now serve as a teaching assistant for two of Pan’s computer forensics courses, guiding fellow students through complex technical challenges during office hours and helping with grading. Over the summer, they completed a cybersecurity co-op at the Security Operations Center for Dick’s Sporting Goods in Pittsburgh, gaining real-world industry experience.

Read also: Town of Penfield to host second annual community health and wellness fair on September 12 at the Penfield Community Center

Life outside academics is just as busy. Rios serves as a Resident Advisor, was a Performing Arts Scholar in acting, and is president of the RIT Cosplay Troupe — a group that meets weekly and stages events year-round. Known for their elaborate Dungeons & Dragons costumes, Rios brings creativity and leadership to every role they take on.

As part of the Norman Miles award, Rios’s scholarship will support their final undergraduate year, while Pan will receive funds for professional development. She plans to use the money to attend a conference or further research, possibly acquiring a laptop for students studying how the newest Microsoft Windows features affect forensic analysis.

For Rios, the recognition is both an honor and a motivation. The award celebrates not only their academic success, but also the dedication, curiosity, and community involvement that have shaped their time at RIT. And while they might have initially suspected the winning email was too good to be true, this time, the message was one hundred percent genuine — a fitting acknowledgment for a student who knows how to spot the real thing.