Rotunda Dusk, University of Virginia Photo: Tdvance~commonswiki via Wikimedia Commons
Governor Terry McAuliffe Friday encouraged students to enter the growing cybersecurity industry, which has 36,000 open jobs.
McAuliffe spoke in NPR’s Kojo Namdi Show days after announcing the recipients of the Commonwealth’s first Cybersecurity Public Service Scholarship.
The scholarship program, established during the 2016 General Assembly Session, provides up to $20,000 in tuition assistance to full-time students pursuing cybersecurity degrees in return for one year of public service per scholarship.
“At a time when Virginia is home to 36,000 open jobs in the cybersecurity sector, we must do everything we can to encourage students to enter this growing industry,” said Governor Terry McAuliffe in a statement.
He congratulated the students for pursuing cutting-edge careers in cybersecurity and their commitment to serving the Commonwealth.
“Through their dedication, we are ensuring that Virginia will have the talent necessary to fight cyber-crime, as well as strengthen and diversify the new Virginia economy.”
The group of twenty-five recipients consists of 10 graduate students and fifteen undergraduates from seven different universities including public research institutions, a public land-grant institution, a Historically Black University and private institutions, the Governor’s office said.
“This diverse group of scholarship recipients is great news for the Commonwealth’s future as a national hub for cybersecurity,” said Secretary of Education Dietra Trent.
“Now more than ever, we need students from all backgrounds pursuing careers in the cyber sector and forming the first line of defense against the threats of the 21st century.”
According to Secretary of Technology Karen Jackson the cyber needs in the Commonwealth are growing exponentially and participants in the Virginia Scholarship for Service Program will “offer us a long-term answer to our internal needs for cyber professionals.”
