ASU Hosts Digital Defenders of Tomorrow at Third Annual Youth Cybersecurity Workshop & Expo 

More than 130 San Angelo ISD students participated in an innovative day centered on cybersecurity and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) during Angelo State University’s Third Annual Youth Cybersecurity Workshop & Expo. The event, which took place April 4 in ASU’s University Center, connects teachers and students with leaders in cybersecurity and exposes students to the cybersecurity career field and related opportunities. SAISD students from 12 elementary schools and all three middle schools participated spent the immersive day receiving hands-on, beginner experience in cybersecurity and more information about cybersecurity, thinking critically, collaborating and creating. 

“I am in awe of the students’ ability to learn these concepts so quickly,” said Dr. Scarlet Clouse, Dean of College Education at Angelo State University. “It’s neat to talk to the students before the event. They are usually pretty nervous and reluctant, especially the fifth graders. By the end of the day, they can’t contain their new-found knowledge and excitement!”

Sixty students from all three SAISD middle schools participated in five workshops throughout the day: Cyber Range, Continuous Threat Detection Demo, a Virtual Escape Room, Education & Career Pathways, and tours of the Regional Security Operations Center at ASU. 

More than 70 SAISD elementary students participated in two workshops: CyberThreat Protector Skills Expo and Cyber Safety and Hygiene/Crack the Password. During the CyberThreat Protector Skills Expo, students competed against each other in a card game using cybersecurity terminology and concepts they learned. The goal is to build a network of assets quickly while defending that network from their opponent’s attempts to disrupt the system with cyber threats. After each match, the winning student’s name was entered into a drawing for prizes. At the end of the day, 19 students’ names were randomly drawn from the collection of names. Students chose between a poster or a $20-gift certificate to Phat Catz Gaming.

“The Cybersecurity Expo was an exceptional experience for our students,” said SAISD Digital Innovation Facilitator Brandon Ligon. “The exposure to various cybersecurity careers, hands-on opportunities, and interactions with like-minded individuals was incredibly beneficial. Witnessing the enthusiasm of our 5th-grade students was particularly exciting. Overall, I thought it was a fantastic event!”

City of San Angelo, ASU and Goodfellow Air Force Base Recognize CyberPatriots

Mayor Gunter spoke to the crowd gathered in ASU’s CJ Davidson Conference Room, expressing how important cybersecurity is to an entity such as the City of San Angelo and the economic impact a cyber attack can have on a city’s citizens. 

“I want to thank each of you for being here today. Whether you’re a student, a teacher, an educator or a parent, your being here today and being a part of this helps me because you know how important cybersecurity is,” said Mayor Gunter. “As Mayor, cybersecurity is of utmost importance ... We, as a city, are responsible for the security and safety of our citizens. If we’re not aware of a cybersecurity attack that can happen to the city, we can’t protect your water resources, your public safety and many other issues … We can’t afford cybersecurity attacks. We can’t afford for our citizens to be threatened.”

The conclusion of the event included recognition of local CyberPatriot teams and award and scholarship presentations. ASU President Dr Ronnie Hawkins, City of San Angelo Mayor Gunter, and Goodfellow Air Force Base 17th Training Wing Deputy Commander Colonel Chris Corbett recognized 10 CyberPatriot teams including nine SAISD teams from Lake View HS, Central HS, Glenn MS, Lincoln MS and Lone Star MS. 

“What’s most important is that you, at the ages that you are, are more knowledgeable, more informed, and more talented at STEM and at cybersecurity than any of us were,” said Mayor Gunter. “We didn’t know the word when I was in high school. We didn’t know the word when I was in college. And most of my life and my career, we never ever said the word ‘cybersecurity.’ You know more. You’re more experienced than I ever was, growing up today. And it takes your passion, your talent to ensure the future of the City of San Angelo, so thank you so much for being here today and doing what you do.”     

New to the event this year was the presentation of scholarships. ASU awarded seven high school students each with a $1,000, CyberPatriot scholarship to be used at ASU. Congratulations to Lindsay Leyba, CHS; Myshae Allen, CHS; Roman Torres, CHS; Faith Franz, CHS; Sebastian Gonzalez, CHS; Jesse Haynes, LVHS; and Rylie Janow, LVHS.   

“I have attended the San Antonio Mayor’s Cup for a couple of years and have been so impressed by the awarding of scholarship funds to the CyberPatriot teams,” said Dr. Clouse. “I wanted to replicate this for our students. My hope is that we continue to grow the support and that students can get significant contributions to further their education.”

Stanley Ratcliffe, STEM teacher from Glenn Middle School, was recognized for his dedication to his students, encouraging involvement in CyberPatriotism and helping to create maximum opportunities for students to learn and excel. 

“One moment that truly resonated with me was during the awards and recognition ceremony,” said Mr. Ligon. “Witnessing our middle school and high school cyber patriot teams being acknowledged for their dedication and achievements in competition was incredibly inspiring. I vividly recall them participating in this Expo from its inception, and it's truly remarkable to see their growth over the years. As a district, we've consistently nurtured their passion and curiosity, and it's rewarding to witness the results. It's not only exciting to see where they are now, but it also sparks anticipation for what they'll accomplish next. Reflecting on this, I couldn't help but think about the impact it has on our 5th graders, showing them the vast possibilities that lie ahead in their future.”

Businesses and Organizations Join ASU Departments to Help Students Explore Education and Career Pathways

Throughout the day, in between sessions, students had the opportunity to visit with various organizations, businesses and ASU departments and learn about different career fields and receive hands-on experience. 

As the digital world expands and we become more networked, the need for cybersecurity also increases. “There are currently 3.5 million unfilled jobs in cybersecurity around the globe,” said Dr. Clouse. “An estimated 750,000 of those are right here in the United States.That’s a lot of job opportunities for you all right here … Unfilled cybersecurity jobs lead to vulnerability to our nation in cyber attacks.” 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation was one of the many organizations, businesses and ASU departments that participated in this year’s CyberSecurity Workshop and Expo’s Education and Career Pathways. At the FBI table, students learned about the different careers available at the bureau and also had the opportunity to inspect equipment and ask questions. “We really appreciated being at the Cybersecurity Expo,” said Special Agent Elizabeth Crabill, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Dallas Division. “Events like this are so important because we are looking for applicants from a broad range of backgrounds with different experiences. It was so much fun to talk to students of all ages about working at the FBI. They asked great questions about what the FBI does and how we carry out our mission, so we really enjoyed talking about all of the many jobs you can do in the FBI.”

Other organizations, businesses and ASU departments that participated in the Education and Career Pathways included: Goodfellow Air Force Base STARBASE; ASU Department of Security Studies and Criminal Justice; ASU Information Technology; ASU Department of Computer Science; ASU Commercial Aviation; ASU Regional Security Operations Center; TCP Software; Snider Technology; Business Excellence Professionals Consulting Inc.; and First Financial Bank.

“This is our first year participating and we look forward to participating again next year,” said Andrew Killingsworth, Sales and Marketing Manager at BEPC Inc. “I would like to recognize the teachers and mentors for their selfless participation and generosity in donating their time and resources to the CyberPatriot teams. I would also like to thank the ASU team for inviting us to participate. By bringing together our technology community to recognize and educate these students, we are building a lasting foundation upon which to build a regional center of excellence in the cybersecurity industry. After speaking with the students today, I saw firsthand the potential for greatness if we invest in our children.”

SAISD is proud of the ongoing community-wide cybersecurity program being piloted in San Angelo by ASU and the University of Texas at San Antonio Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security in partnership with SAISD and the City of San Angelo, and supports students' pursuit of their future-ready goals. SAISD extends appreciation to our own SAISD Difference Makers who help provide impactful and successful STEM learning in our classrooms. To stay up-to-date on San Angelo ISD, please visit the SAISD website at www.saisd.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. 

About the San Antonio Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security Program

This event is part of the ongoing community-wide cybersecurity program being piloted in San Angelo by ASU and the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security. The program is funded by a $1.67 million grant from the National Security Agency and is designed to help entire communities become more cyber-secure. Once the two-year pilot implementation is complete, the program will be transferable and applicable to communities of any size nationwide.