Academy offers intro to cybersecurity skills
Article By: Denise Ray
Forty area high school students experienced a week of learning valuable skills at the GenCyber Warrior Academy (GCWA) from June 5-11 at the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Dahlonega Campus. Six UNG faculty and staff served as instructors.
The National Security Agency (NSA) provided UNG grants totaling $265,000 to support GCWA and a weeklong academy later this summer that will help middle and high school educators learn how to teach cybersecurity. With the grant funding, students were able to attend GCWA for free.
"It's been exciting working with our sixth GenCyber high school camp, and we're grateful to the NSA for supporting this camp each summer since 2016," Dr. Bryson Payne, UNG professor of computer science and coordinator of student cyber programs, said.
This year's program includes more than 30 hours of residential, on-site instruction at the Dahlonega Campus and 16-20 hours of pre-camp and post-camp virtual cyber enrichment activities. In October, the students will attend the Hacker Halted 2022 conference in Atlanta.
It's been exciting working with our sixth GenCyber high school camp, and we're grateful to the NSA for supporting this camp each summer since 2016.
Dr. Bryson Payne
UNG professor of computer science and coordinator of student cyber programs
Payne said the camp expanded this year to include ethical hacking, forensics, and reverse engineering, "three of the hottest cyber skillsets in both industry and government."
"In ethical hacking, students learned how attackers trick users and steal information, as well as how to block those attacks," he said. "In forensics, they learned how to investigate cyberattacks. And in reverse engineering, they learned how to take apart ransomware and recover files without paying the ransom."Students received hands-on labs using the Certified Ethical Hacker iLabs curriculum. The standards-based content reinforced the six GenCyber cybersecurity concepts: confidentiality, integrity, availability, thinking like an adversary, defense in depth, and keeping it simple.
"It is that time of year where computer science and information systems faculty get together to inspire highly talented next-generation cyber warriors," Dr. Tamirat Abegaz, UNG associate professor of computer science and information systems, said. "We use this opportunity to share feedback on peer teaching performance."
The mix of hands-on and interactive learning opportunities appealed to Ja'ise Green, a rising senior at Kennesaw Mountain High School.
"I originally thought that the camp was going to be set up in lecture halls and be a rather formal setting where we learn everything in the front half before entering the more camp-style setup later in the week," Green said.
Joshua Acklen, a rising senior from Innovation Academy Home School, has family members who work in cybersecurity. The Roswell, Georgia, student found the experience "enriching" and enjoyed being able to see what family members deal with on a daily basis.
"The pre-camp activities helped us expedite learning the more technical side of cybersecurity," Acklen said.
Elizabeth Iaryguine, a Kennesaw Mountain High School rising senior, enjoyed getting a taste of college life by interacting with professors.
"The academy has definitely changed my perspective on cybersecurity," she said. "I didn't know how broad the field is and how a variety of skillsets and interests can be applied to it. Overall, I'm really glad I went."
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