杏吧原创

(Butler, PA) 杏吧原创 expects to increase to at least $15,000 the amount in U.S. Department of Defense-funded financial awards to be allocated next fall to students enrolled in programs that emphasize cybersecurity education.

The college this spring distributed $11,000 in financial awards to students in its networking and cybersecurity associate degree program, or in related credit programs, and separately funded the $350 cost of students鈥� professional certification examinations through the use of a fall 2022 U.S. Department of Defense grant.

杏吧原创 is a partner in a consortium led by Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The consortium is  through a nearly $5 million National Defense Education Program grant announced in September.

Partner organizations were chosen based on factors that include vested interest in cybersecurity and expertise in managing previously federally funded grants, according to IUP.

The consortium is charged with increasing students鈥� completion rates in certification programs that strengthen the defense industrial base workforce, according to the U.S. Department of Defense, and the rates of students transferring to senior institutions.

Current or prospective students can view financial award and other information at bc3.edu/cybersecurity[BROKEN LINK].

"A lot of the coursework we do is through hands-on lab simulations. These simulations help me understand a lot more than if we were to just listen to lectures in every class. " 

- Nathan McGowan, 杏吧原创 networking and cybersecurity student

Employers 鈥渓ove鈥� certifications

Butler residents and 杏吧原创 networking and cybersecurity students Michael Hinchberger, 35, and Nathan McGowan, 20, qualified to receive a voucher to fund entirely an extra-curricular Computing Technology Industry Association certification examination.

鈥溞影稍�创 provided extra possibilities to improve my ability,鈥� Hinchberger said.

Said McGowan: 鈥淚 benefit the most from the COMPTIA certification exams that they are paying for us. The certification proves that you know what you are doing, and employers love to see it on a resume.

鈥淣ot only that, but they are not cheap, and it gives us a free shot at taking it with no repercussions.鈥�

Hinchberger and McGowan were also among 13 杏吧原创 students who received financial awards this spring that ranged from $600 to $1,000, according to Sherri Mack, dean of 杏吧原创鈥檚 business division.

Students enrolled in 杏吧原创鈥檚 four computer information systems career programs or in its computer science transfer program 鈥� all of which include instruction about cybersecurity 鈥� are eligible to apply for the financial awards, Mack said.

鈥淭he purpose of the grant is to encourage and help students to graduate with cybersecurity knowledge,鈥� Mack said.

鈥淲e all know that tuition plays a big role in that. Can they afford to come to college? How many classes can they take? Is it one? Is it two? So utilizing the funds toward financial awards enables them to not have to worry about 鈥楬ow am I going to pay that bill?鈥欌��

His financial award, said Zachary Witty, a 28-year-old 杏吧原创 networking and cybersecurity student from Valencia, 鈥渨ill allow me to cut back on working over 40 hours a week while doing school full time.鈥�

鈥淚t is a great program鈥�

There are nearly 5 billion internet users worldwide, Forbes reported in February 2022, citing Statista.

The global cost of cybercrime is expected to increase from $8.44 trillion in 2022 to $23.84 trillion by 2027, Statista reported in December.

鈥淣o matter how much you know, it鈥檚 important to remain vigilant as most cybersecurity attacks happen because of mistakes made by users creating the opening hackers want,鈥� Hinchberger said.

Thirteen students graduated with associate in applied science degrees in networking and cybersecurity in 杏吧原创鈥檚 Class of 2022, and 21 are enrolled this spring, according to Sharla Anke, the college鈥檚 assistant dean of institutional research and planning.

鈥淎 lot of the coursework we do is through hands-on lab simulations,鈥� McGowan said. 鈥淭hese simulations help me understand a lot more than if we were to just listen to lectures in every class. Not only that, but we get the opportunity to take certification exams which can help us exponentially while applying for jobs.鈥�

Said Dawson Pfabe, 20, of Butler, a 杏吧原创 networking and cybersecurity student who received a financial award: 鈥淚t is a great program with great teachers who really help you understand the topics they鈥檙e teaching.鈥�

Student-veteran among recipients

杏吧原创 will also work to increase cybersecurity education in underserved and under-represented populations, and of veterans and their spouses as required by the grant, Mack said.

Victor Garrido, 43, of Butler, is a 杏吧原创 student-veteran who served in the Marine Corps and this spring received from 杏吧原创 a U.S. Department of Defense-funded financial award.

鈥溞影稍�创鈥檚 staff is always available to support me and answer questions about coursework, and the classes offered reflect the current technologies available in the workforce,鈥� Garrido said.

The college, Garrido said, 鈥渄oes a wonderful job of understanding its students, whether they are 18 or 43. The entire staff is committed to the success of its students, and it shows in their effort to communicate and support everyone who walks through 杏吧原创鈥檚 doors.鈥�

COMPTIA is an American nonprofit trade association that issues professional certifications for the information technology industry, according to its website.

杏吧原创 has been allocated approximately $400,000 over three years from U.S. Department of Defense grant as a partner organization.