The Center for Cyber Safety and Education, the charitable foundation of nonprofit membership association (ISC)², has announced the recipients of its 2023 scholarship program. A total of $174,000 in scholarships will be provided to 61 cybersecurity students who have demonstrated academic excellence, financial need, and a passion for the industry. The program aims to improve access to the cybersecurity profession by removing financial barriers to education and promoting diversity within the field.
Established in 2011, the Center for Cyber Safety and Education’s scholarship program is considered one of the world’s leading providers of cybersecurity scholarships. Over the past 12 years, the program has awarded scholarships to more than 760 students. This year, the recipients will receive the (ISC)² Undergraduate, Graduate, and Women’s Scholarships, as well as scholarships from additional sponsors Raytheon Technologies, KnowBe4, and Octillo.
The number of scholarship applications for 2023 reached an all-time high, with a total of 1,656 applicants. What’s particularly noteworthy is that more than 61% of the applicants were women, and over 71% identified as belonging to underrepresented groups. This demonstrates an increased interest from a diverse pool of individuals in pursuing a career in cybersecurity.
Holly Schneider Brown, the Center’s Senior Director, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to support future cybersecurity professionals. She emphasized the program’s goal of diversifying the industry and bridging the cyber workforce gap, which currently stands at 3.4 million professionals. By providing students from all backgrounds with the necessary resources and opportunities to succeed, the Center aims to address this gap and create a more inclusive cybersecurity landscape.
In addition to financial support, scholarship recipients will also have the opportunity to obtain the entry-level Certified in Cybersecurity certification for free through the (ISC)² One Million Certified in Cybersecurity program. They will receive guidance from experienced cybersecurity professionals and previous scholarship recipients and gain access to valuable information about internship and career opportunities.
Rachel Pao, a student studying computer science and cybersecurity at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, expressed her gratitude for receiving the Undergraduate Scholarship from (ISC)² and the Center for Cyber Safety and Education. She highlighted the award’s financial support, network-building opportunities, and the chance to attain highly valuable certifications.
The scholarship recipients have been announced for various categories. The (ISC)² Undergraduate Cybersecurity Scholarship recipients include Diya Bansal, Kovidh Gandreti, Austin George, Vivian Green, Benjamin Hale, Miguel Hernandez, Rhea Jethvani, Henry Jiang, Shanelle Kan, Shaun Karani, Mariami Kentchadze, Zachary Kirkeby, Veronika Kyles, Barrett Lee, Lexie Madlem, Alexander Mages, Zachary Mahboub, Michael Owen, Rachel Pao, Puja Reddy Teakulapalli, Abigail Terhoeve, and Alex Zhang.
The (ISC)² Graduate Cybersecurity Scholarship recipients include Samuel Ashaolu, Tin Aung Yin, Zion Basque, Christopher Buck, Collins Bunde, Jay Connolly, Antoinette Dickens, Mohammad Eshan, Habiba Farzand, Sonia Fereidooni, Rupal Jain, Kush Janani, Oluwabunmi Layode, Jyotsna Masand, Fernanda Molina, Dheeraj Nayak, Vivian Olatunji, Joel Omoleye, Roshan Poudel, Vibha Puthran, and Vaibhav Zaveri.
The (ISC)² Women’s Cybersecurity Scholarship recipients include Jasmin Azan, Kimberly Cummings, Trevor Gardner, Kushi Jakati, Phalan Klein, Betta Lyon-Delsordo, Priyanka Mall, Erin Murphy, Ragashree Mysuru Chandrashekar, and Jasmine Sciarillo.
There are also specific scholarship recipients from Raytheon Technologies (Lily Chen, Eirik Marquez, and Veronica Vergara) and KnowBe4 (names not available). Additionally, there is a scholarship recipient from Octillo (name not available).
The Center for Cyber Safety and Education continues to accept applications for the KnowBe4 Women of Colour in Cybersecurity (South Africa) Scholarship and the KnowBe4 Veterans, Guard, Reserve, and Spouse Cybersecurity Scholarship.
For those interested in future (ISC)² scholarship opportunities and application dates for 2024, more information can be found at the Center’s website.
The Center for Cyber Safety and Education, formerly known as (ISC)² Foundation, is a non-profit charity established in 2011 by (ISC)². Its mission is to reach the general public and empower individuals of all age groups and demographics with cybersecurity education and awareness programs. The Center aims to break down barriers and provide opportunities for underserved individuals, groups, and organizations to benefit from (ISC)²’s commitment to the cybersecurity profession.
(ISC)² is an international nonprofit membership association focused on creating a safe and secure cyber world. The association offers a range of credentials, including the well-known Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification. With over 500,000 certified professionals, (ISC)² is dedicated to advancing the industry and educating the general public through its charitable foundation, the Center for Cyber Safety and Education.
In conclusion, the 2023 scholarship program of the Center for Cyber Safety and Education, in collaboration with (ISC)², has awarded scholarships totaling $174,000 to 61 deserving cybersecurity students. The program not only supports these students financially but also provides them with valuable resources, certifications, and networking opportunities. With a focus on diversity and inclusion, the program aims to bridge the cyber workforce gap and create a more diverse and inclusive cybersecurity industry.