by Katy Kappele
Horizon Reporter
This July, Whatcom Community College received $200,000 in grant money from the National Science Foundation to fund a series of “Cybersecurity Camps” for local high schools.
According to a Whatcom press release, this was one of 75-90 new grants out of 240 proposals.
“Recently named a National Center of Academic Excellence for Information Assurance Two-Year Education, Whatcom is the ideal institution to lead this effort,” the press release said. “Through the camps and related activities, this project will increase awareness of the exciting and emerging field of information security.”
The grant money will help students in the field of computer security learn skills vital in today’s world and will raise awareness of computer security, the press release said.
The grant provides support for providing participating high school teachers as well, said the press release. “High school students will be exposed to information security scenarios through hands-on activities, cybersecurity camps and cyberdefense competitions,” it said.
Whatcom’s Computer Information Systems Advisory Committee, CyberWatch, Technology Alliance Group for Northwest Washington (TAG), and the University of Washington Center of Information Assurance and Cybersecurity (CIAC), and local high schools banded together to create these camps, the press release said. The camps will take place over the next two years.
