Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno made it very clear to the group gathered in Red Bank Regional's media center on Monday that it wasn't the school's proximity to her home nearby that brought her there that morning.

"It's that important," she said of the school's Information Technology students nabbing the top three spots in the state in a nationwide competition.

Guadagno gave a nod to all of the ingredients that went into the students' success -- including parents, teachers and a school board that supports the cyber security program.

She singled out teacher Mandy Galante for her "tenacity" in not only helping her IT students succeed during competition but also in promoting all of the good things going on at Red Bank Regional.

Thirty-seven students competed in the two-month, nationwide competition, and three students took top spots in the state.

The top students from RBR were Ryan McVeety, Little Silver, who also finished 25th in the nation; Jared Katzman, Little Silver, who finished 26th in the nation; and Michael Terpak who finished 38th in the nation.

The lieutenant governor was joined by NJ Chief Information Officer Steven Emanuel, who told the students, "You are going to be building the jobs of the 21st century."

"And I'm looking forward to crossing paths with you again some day," he said, "sitting across the table at an interview."

A few of the students gave their own press conference following the ceremony and talked about their successes and what it meant to be recognized by the lieutenant governor.

Junior Emily Wicki of Union Beach said she had enjoyed competing and being a part of the club. "You learn something new every day," she said.