Southwestern Salutatorian turning computer interest into Cybersecurity degree

Editor’s note: This is the fifth in a series of feature stories celebrating the Class of 2026 valedictorians and salutatorians at the five high schools in Shelby County.

Levi McInerny has a well-thought-out plan for success.

The Southwestern High School Class of 2026 Salutatorian found an interest, researched it as a career then found a way to get the education he needed without going seriously into debt.

McInerny will attend Purdue University in Indianapolis in the fall to study Cybersecurity. His plan is to commute to downtown Indianapolis for classwork as a way to save expenses.

“I’ve always been interested in computers,” explained McInerny. “Doing some research and looking at the job market for computer science, it’s changing a lot. Cybersecurity has very safe job availability in that field. Also, I am really interested in what it all entails.”

McInerny has already built a computer with his father as a hobby project.

“I really enjoyed that,” he said with a smile because there was an ulterior motive. “I just wanted to do it to play video games on.”

By choosing the Indianapolis campus of Purdue (formerly IUPUI), McInerny does not need to move into a dormitory.

“I wanted to be closer to my family and living at home I can save a lot more money that way,” he said. “My parents are still going to teach me financial freedom and being independent and on my own. I think I will be able to save more money being at home.”

And with three younger siblings all heavily involved in the athletics scene at Southwestern, it will allow him to be supportive of his family.

McInerny played baseball and golf while at Southwestern and was part of National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

“I will miss my friends and the freedom we had especially our senior year,” he said of graduating. “We had a lot of fun together. I am going to miss the teachers too. A lot of the teachers know you so well here.”

Golf is currently taking up much of his summertime. He works at Timbergate Golf Course in Edinburgh and works part-time for Kona Ice.

McInerny is the son of Scott and Becky McInerny.

“They are happy I decided to stay home and commute,” he said. “My mom is still going to say she misses me and is worried about me. But I think they are excited for me.”

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