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Applications are Open for USM's 2023 GenCyber Cybersecurity Camp

Fri, 05/19/2023 - 08:51am | By: Ivonne Kawas

Applications are open for The University of Southern Mississippi (USM)’s 2023 GenCyber Cybersecurity Camp hosted by the School of Computing Sciences and Computer Engineering on the Hattiesburg Campus in the month of June. 

This year, two residential camps will be hosted for rising 9th – 12th grade students on June 4-9 and June 11-16.

Camp participants will learn the following:

  • Techniques to reduce cyber vulnerabilities with multiple layers of protection;
  • How to think like a cyber adversary;
  • How to protect data and prevent unauthorized system access;
  • Cryptography; and other cybersecurity concepts and skills.

Campers will also learn from industry, government, and military cybersecurity professionals in addition to faculty and students in USM’s School of Computing Sciences and Computer Engineering.

­­As the world becomes even more reliant on cyber-based technology in every aspect of our daily lives, Dr. Sarah Lee, Director of the School of Computing Sciences and Computer Engineering, highlights the importance of exposing high school students to the field.

“The GenCyber program is a proven pathway for engaging Mississippi youth with cybersecurity,” said Dr. Lee. “Participants are able to discover their skills and develop interest in pursuing cybersecurity as a career. This enables us to fill some of the thousands of open cybersecurity jobs in the public and private sector.”

GenCyber is an initiative, funded by the National Science Foundation and National Security Agency, and other federal partners, that aims to solve the nation's shortfall of skilled cybersecurity professionals.

Camp details and registration