Matthew Oliveira Krischlunas earned a 4.0 GPA while balancing full-time studies, employment, and applied technology projects

A time-consuming challenge involving Pokémon, the popular game and entertainment franchise, helped Matthew Oliveira Krischlunas discover how computer code could solve a practical problem.

Rather than continue calculating character statistics by hand and repeatedly searching for different abilities, he created a program using Python, a widely used programming language. The program allows players to select the Pokémon they want to train, identify the statistics they want to improve, and compare possible character configurations.

The project began with a personal interest, but it demonstrated something more important: Krischlunas could recognize a problem, design a solution, and apply skills developed in his Kentucky State University computer science courses.

That approach helped the spring 2026 graduate earn a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity with a 4.0 GPA while gaining professional experience with Nationwide.

“I tried to take what I was learning in my computer science classes and apply it to problems I encountered,” Krischlunas said. “The Pokémon project gave me a way to use Python for something that interested me while developing skills that could transfer to other work.”

Krischlunas pursued his degree while working full time, requiring him to make careful choices about how he used his time. Faculty members also encouraged him to participate in activities that could broaden his experience.

During his first year, Dr. Chi Shen, dean of the College of Business, Engineering, and Technology, encouraged him to join a team preparing for an HBCU entrepreneurship competition. Students worked together to develop a product concept and present it to business professionals.

The experience strengthened Krischlunas’ ability to present ideas, respond to questions, and communicate with people from different professional backgrounds. It also taught him the importance of explaining technical concepts in ways others can readily understand.

“Matthew distinguished himself not only through his outstanding academic record but also through his willingness to apply what he was learning,” said Dr. Shen. “He maintained a perfect GPA while working and developing the technical, collaborative, and communication skills employers value.”

His coursework also provided opportunities to explore cybersecurity in a controlled setting. For one assignment, Krischlunas created separate “predator” and “victim” computers using virtual machines, which simulate independent computer systems through software. The exercise increased his understanding of penetration testing, an authorized process used to identify potential security weaknesses.

A pivotal professional opportunity came during his second year, when Jerome Walker, assistant professor of computer science and cybersecurity, encouraged him to attend a Kentucky State career fair and speak with Nationwide representatives.

When a recruiter asked whether he knew Python, Krischlunas had a memorable example ready: the Pokémon program he had created.

The conversation eventually led to a cybersecurity internship with Nationwide in May 2025. Before the internship concluded, he was invited to continue with the company as a student worker while finishing his degree.

His responsibilities included developing a computer-based training module based on a nationally recognized cybersecurity framework. He also redesigned a technology process flowchart, analyzed cybersecurity dashboard results, prepared presentations, and facilitated meetings with colleagues and organizational leaders.

The experience showed him how risk analysis, governance, reporting, and collaboration contribute to cybersecurity decisions within a major organization.

Krischlunas encourages other students to pursue experiences that may initially fall outside their comfort zones.

“Attend the career fair, try to land an internship, and gain as much experience as you can before you graduate,” Krischlunas said. “The career fair at Kentucky State gave me the opportunity to build real-world skills and better understand where the technology industry is heading.”