SAN ANGELO, Texas — Angelo State University will host the inaugural City of San Angelo Youth Cybersecurity Workshop and Expo for middle school students and faculty interested in forming CyberPatriot teams Thursday, Apr. 7. This workshop will take place from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Junell Center/Stephens Arena VIP Room, 2235 S. Jackson St.
After a short welcome by ASU President Ronnie Hawkins Jr., more than 80 San Angelo Independent School District middle school students will participate in three workshops:
- Intro to CyberThreat Defender - Essential cybersecurity information and defense strategies
- Intro to EPIC Cyber Range - Practicing cybersecurity skills in a safe virtual environment
- Career Exploration - Mini sessions with representatives from local cyber-related businesses, the government sector, and state and federal entities
Following the workshops, the students will be served lunch while their teachers take part in a CyberPatriot Faculty Workshop led by a cybersecurity education specialist with representatives from Goodfellow Air Force Base and the CyberTexas Foundation.
CyberPatriot is the National Youth Cyber Education Program created by the Air Force Association to inspire students in kindergarten through 12th grade toward cybersecurity careers. More details are available at uscyberpatriot.org.
Afternoon activities will include recognition of the Lake View High School CyberPatriot Team by San Angelo Mayor Brenda Gunter and closing remarks by Hawkins.
The Youth Cybersecurity Workshop and Expo 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.
The ASU event is also a lead in to the upcoming Concho Valley Cyber Security Roundup community-wide event Apr. 26 that will feature informational and interactive presentations for businesses, nonprofit organizations, government entities, healthcare facilities, schools, educators and senior citizens.
