Teaching the Next Generation of Cybersecurity Professionals

GenCyber Hawai‘i Camp in its second year

GenCyber Camp Participants

(Honolulu) – Approximately 120 Hawai‘i high schools students and teachers are participating in week long GenCyber Hawai‘i camps that started on Monday, June 6.  The week will culminate with a “Grand Challenge” that incorporates coded clues which students will have to solve using cybersecurity concepts, tools and skills learned during the week.

The camp will officially end with a career fair and recognition ceremony with Governor David Ige and Captain Cliff Bean, Commander of National Security Agency Hawai‘i in attendance.

GenCyber Hawai‘i Grand Challenge & Recognition Ceremony

Friday, June 10, 2016

University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Campus Center Ballroom

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Contact Billie Lueder at (808) 295-2467 for media inquires.

In its second year in Hawai‘i, students are learning about ethics, cryptography, coding, networking and security. Four introductory and intermediate/advanced tracks are being taught concurrently at Honolulu Community College and UH Maui College. The overarching goals of the GenCyber camps is to educate high school students about career pathways in cybersecurity, and to strengthen the cybersecurity knowledge base of high school teachers and ultimately, to increase the number of cybersecurity professionals in the State of Hawai‘i.

“We are excited the NSA has chosen Hawaiʻi to help increase awareness and develop the cybersecurity workforce.  Our goal is to teach students cybersecurity principles while giving them an opportunity to explore this industry as a career option as they enter college,” says Steve Auerbach, Director of PCATT.  “And we are extremely grateful to the Public Schools of Hawai‘i Foundation for their financial and advisory support for GenCyber Hawai‘i.”

The GenCyber program is sponsored by the National Security Agency and the National Science Foundation to educate young people about cybersecurity and encourage them to pursue academic and professional careers in this area.  The Pacific Center for Advanced Technology Training (PCATT) and the Computing, Electronics & Networking Technologies (CENT) program at Honolulu Community College are working in partnership with the Hawai‘i State Department of Education, the University of Hawai‘i System’s Information Technology Services division, and UH Maui College to host these camps.

Additional GenCyber camps are being held for teachers from kindergarten through the 8th grade level at various locations across the state throughout the summer.  More information about GenCyber Hawai‘i can be found at: http://gencyber-hi.org/