2nd Annual Virginia Cybersecurity Education Conference

The most recent workforce study from ISC2 shows the skilled cyber workforce employee gap continues to widen in both skilled labor and diversity. Young students show more interest in using technology than seeking careers to innovate and protect technology. Attracting talent early is vital to increasing cyber workforce diversity. The CyberPatriot National Youth Cyber Education Program offers engaging age-appropriate awareness, education and competition for youth K-12. In particular, the national cyber defense competition for middle and high school aged students is highly successful on multiple levels with closing the skilled cyber workforce gap. 1. Students learn hands-on technical and professional skills in a fun environment working in a team with likeminded students. 2. Coaches are provided materials for success and need not have technical expertise to lead a CyberPatriot team. 3. CyberPatriot has demonstrated to be an effective mechanism to encourage collaboration between Industry and academic institutions, as well as cyber community professionals, who come together to help teams succeed. 4. CyberPatriot competitors develop knowledge and skills that help them stay safe in the digital world and are valued by employers. Join this session to get ideas of how CyberPatriot can benefit you, your students and your community and how we can continue to innovatively grow the youth cyber education footprint across the Commonwealth.