DCHS, LSHS Recognized for Cybersecurity Education
Posted on 05/05/2023
Students at two Douglas County high schools will soon have the opportunity to further enhance their education by learning about cyber security thanks to the CyberStart America program. The organization recently announced Douglas County High School as a Cyber Expansion School and Lithia Springs High School as a Cyber Opportunity School in the county. It also awarded the district a District of Distinction Award in January for having one of the highest amounts of students registered with the program in the state.
For being named schools of distinction, both DCHS and LSHS will receive $2,500 prizes to continue investing in their students’ cybersecurity educations.
The program, which is sponsored by the National Cyber Scholarship Foundation (NCSF) and the SANS Institute, features a series of online challenges that allow students to act as cyber protection agents. In the game, students will solve cybersecurity-related puzzles while exploring topics such as code-breaking, programming, networking, and digital forensics. And the best part is that no prior knowledge of computer science is required by students or teachers to begin the program.
While playing, students are also able to compete in the game with other students from across the state to win scholarships, prizes, and recognition for themselves and their schools. Currently, over 50 students in Douglas County have been participating in the program through their cybersecurity courses, and many hope to see that number increase as the game gains popularity.
Along with helping students learn about cybersecurity, makers of the game also hope that it can begin helping address the shortage of cybersecurity professionals in today’s world. Currently, there are tens of thousands of cybersecurity professionals are needed, as threats from around the world are a critical issue for the state and country. The hope is that this game can begin creating a robust pipeline of students who eventually enter the workforce as cybersecurity professionals in various organizations.
The state of Georgia has already seen the importance of creating this pipeline. Last year, the University of North Georgia, the Georgia Cyber Center at Augusta University, Georgia Tech Research Institute, and the Georgia Department of Education all came together to create “CyberStart in Georgia” to promote the program in schools and give $100,000 in cash and prizes to Georgia’s students, teachers, and schools.