Inspiring the Next Generation of Cybersecurity Leaders: National Cyber Signing Day Celebrates High School Students’ Achievements – iKeepSafe
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Inspiring the Next Generation of Cybersecurity Leaders: National Cyber Signing Day Celebrates High School Students’ Achievements
Posted on January 26th, 2021
by Emily Ensign
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On Monday, December 7 at 5:45 PM EST, during the 2020 NICE (National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education) Virtual K12 Cybersecurity Education Conference, host organization iKeepSafe aired the third annual National Cyber Signing Day presentation to over 1,000 live viewers.
Featuring seven students from four different states, the 2020 National Cyber Signing Day elevated K12 students’ cybersecurity achievements to the level of professional signing days for student athletes. Integrating key elements of high-energy sports events – music, video packages, guest speakers, mascots, special messages from coaches and staff, and inspirational messaging. The presentation also expressed gratitude to the teachers and staff who supported students’ aspirations, and encouraged employers to provide work-based experiences for K12 level students.
The 2020 National Cyber Signing Day recorded presentation, launched live during the Conference, has been made public and can be viewed online at:
https://www.k12cybersecurityconference.org/2020-national-cyber-signing-day-video
Said iKeepSafe Director of Operations and NICE K12 Cybersecurity Education Conference Coordinator, Felicia Rateliff:
“By featuring the National Cyber Signing Day presentation during the NICE K12 Cybersecurity Education Conference, a national event for cybersecurity educators, we hope to inspire organizations and schools across the country to provide similar events celebrating K12 students’ achievements on their paths toward cybersecurity and STEM related careers. We hope that by making this video public, it will be a source of inspiration for students, educators, and businesses alike.”
The 2020 National Cyber Signing Day featured the following students:
David Counselman, Jr., a junior at Utopia High School in Utopia, Texas
Eric Dinh, a senior at Huntsville High School in Huntsville, Alabama
Safe Gergis, a senior at Troy High School in Fullerton, California
Samuel Grant, an 11th grader at Moscow High School in Moscow, Idaho
Josiah James, a 10th grader from Sam Houston High School in San Antonio, Texas
Charissa Kim, a 2020 high school graduate from California
Emily Moody, a senior at New Century Technology High School in Huntsville, Alabama
Guest speakers included representatives of the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education, CISA within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, GenCyber, CompTIA, the Cyber Hero Adventures Show, Javilud LLC, Troy High School in Fullerton, California, and a congratulatory video message from the University of Texas at San Antonio. The students’ high-energy introductions were provided by Master of Ceremonies Greg Simmons, San Antonio, Texas KSAT12 sports news director and anchor.
In 2018, Conference host iKeepSafe partnered with Amanda Lee Keammerer, CEO of Javilud LLC, who originally conceived the National Cyber Signing Day idea, to first feature the presentation at the NICE K12 Cybersecurity Education Conference in San Antonio, Texas. Since then, the National Cyber Signing Day has become a highly anticipated and integral part of the conference’s goal of promoting, recruiting, and expanding the US cybersecurity workforce of the future. Keammerer stated:
“In 2018, NICE trusted us to completely reimagine what a lunch event looked like at their annual conference. To see how far we have come in three short years is a testament to the strength of collaboration and creativity between the public sector, industry, schools, and non-profit organizations like iKeepSafe. Centering student voices was particularly important this year, as our students have excelled despite COVID-19, distance learning, and other factors out of their control. I hope that people watch this video, and feel inspired to ask students for their opinions more often – and to hire more high school students!”
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About iKeepSafe – The Internet Keep Safe Coalition (iKeepSafe) certifies digital products as compliant with state and federal requirements for handling protected personal information. We help organizations achieve and maintain compliance through product assessments, monthly monitoring, annual training, and assistance with remediation. Governors, First Spouses, and State Attorneys General from throughout the United States joined with law enforcement agencies, and child safety advocates in the formation of the Internet Keep Safe Coalition (iKeepSafe) a national effort promoting the safe and healthy use of technology. iKeepSafe was founded by Jacalyn S. Leavitt, former First Lady of Utah, in 2005. Over the past decade, iKeepSafe has evolved into a leading organization trusted internationally by families, educators, and industry. IkeepSafe has been the host of the NICE K12 Cybersecurity Education Conference for the past five years. For more information on iKeepSafe, visit ikeepsafe.org.
About Javilud – Founded in 2017, Javilud LLC transforms innovation at the intersection of people, politics, technology, and art. Through consulting services, signature events, and creative collaborations, we elevate public discourse, engage diverse perspectives, and strengthen communities. Igniting curiosity and stretching beyond comfort zones is what we do best – for ourselves, for our clients, and for the world: www.javilud.com . Javilud is proud to be a woman-owned, minority-owned, and Hispanic-owned small business.
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