By John Costanzo

瓜神网鈥檚 School of Cybersecurity inducted seven students into its Cyber LeADERS Scholars Program on Sept. 11 and recognized 13 students from previous cohorts.聽

Through the scholars program, a partnership between 瓜神网, Tidewater Community College and Virginia Peninsula Community College, selected students receive two to three years of support with a full in-state tuition scholarship and an annual living allowance ranging from $27,000 for undergraduates to $37,000 for graduate students. There is also a professional development allowance.

鈥淭hrough the Cyber LeADERS Scholars Program, these impressive students are being set up for long-term success,鈥 said Brian Payne, interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. 鈥淚 am excited to see where they go and the opportunities they will find, representing 瓜神网 in the national cyber workforce.鈥澛

Inducted scholars are required to work in federal cybersecurity positions for two to three years after graduation.

The newly inducted students are:

  • Aaron Jones, MS Cybersecurity
  • A鈥檚hya Reynolds, BS and MS Cybersecurity
  • David Hopkins, BS and MS Cybersecurity
  • Michael Opoku-Arthur, BS Cybersecurity
  • Nicholas Robertson, BS and MS Cybersecurity
  • Nicholas Wiehr, BS Cybersecurity
  • Sahmer Ismael, BS and MS Cybersecurity

鈥淭hese students were selected based on their potential to succeed in the program and their commitment to public service,鈥 said Danial Takabi, director of the School of Cybersecurity.

Lanah Stafford, director of high impact learning initiatives in the Office of Academic Innovation and Learning Support, described the group as 鈥減art of a truly exclusive cohort.鈥 These seven out of more than 1,500 students majoring in cybersecurity are preparing to leave 瓜神网 as 鈥渉ighly trained, workforce-ready professionals 鈥 true cyber leaders.鈥

鈥淚 know that with students like ours, our nation鈥檚 cyber force is in good hands,鈥 Stafford said.

Established in 2021 through funding from the National Science Foundation鈥檚 CyberCorps Scholarship for Service (SFS) initiative, eight Cyber LeADERS have gone through the program and started their careers in the federal government in positions nationwide.

鈥淚 believe if you have access, opportunity and resources, you can truly make it anywhere you want to go,鈥 Jaidan Williams, 鈥23, said at the induction ceremony. 鈥淏y being in this program, you have the access, you have the opportunity and you have the resources, so I believe you will make it very far.鈥

Williams, a Cyber LeADER alumna, graduated with her degree in cybersecurity from 瓜神网, and now works as an IT specialist in the NASA Office of the Inspector General.

Karen Ann Ettule, a current Cyber LeADER working on her master鈥檚 degree in cybersecurity, is set to graduate in December. She shared her experience at the induction ceremony.

鈥淧erhaps the greatest gift from this program has been the clarity of purpose it has provided me,鈥 Ettule said. 鈥淭he SFS program instilled in me a deep sense of responsibility and pride, knowing that the work we do today will protect future generations. I now have a clear vision of my career path, whether that be within federal agencies shaping cybersecurity policy and operations or protecting the next generation.鈥

Current Cyber LeADERS are:

  • Karen Ann Ettule, MS Cybersecurity
  • Gregory Wilson, MS Cybersecurity, BS 鈥24
  • Hannah Bass, MS Cybersecurity, BS 鈥23
  • Mmoleca Ehungwe, BS Cybersecurity, Virginia Peninsula Community College 鈥23
  • Jacob Slone, BS Cybersecurity, Tidewater Community College 鈥23
  • Aiden Everton, BS Cybersecurity, Tidewater Community College 鈥24
  • Aoife Murphy, MS Cybersecurity,
  • Bhawnish Sharma, MS Cybersecurity
  • Catherine Burroughs, BS Cybersecurity
  • Danielle Raynor, MS Cybersecurity
  • Elijah Gartrell, BS Cybersecurity
  • Kode Coleman, BS and MS Cybersecurity
  • Lauren Redd, MS Cybersecurity

SFS Cyber LeADERS Alumni are:

  • Ivan Santiago, BS Cybersecurity, 鈥22
  • Jaidan Williams, BS Cybersecurity, 鈥23
  • James Read, MS Cybersecurity, 鈥23
  • Jacen Davis, BS Cybersecurity, 鈥23
  • Drew Brown, MS Cybersecurity, 鈥23
  • Zobair Wali, MS Cybersecurity, 鈥24
  • William Matos, MS Cybersecurity, 鈥24
  • Nathaly Flores, MS Cybersecurity, 鈥24