Adjunct instructor wins $22K scholarship for cyber certifications
Article By: Clark Leonard
Jacob Elliott, an Information Technology Services software developer and adjunct instructor of computer science at the University of North Georgia (果冻传媒), won a $22,000 scholarship from the SANS Institute to earn three industry-recognized cybersecurity certifications.
"It's really meaningful because I've been doing a lot of work with our cybersecurity students and the CyberHawks student club," Elliott said. "This will allow me to pass more cyber knowledge on to my students."
His win this spring in the Cyber FastTrack capture-the-flag cybersecurity competition made Elliott eligible for the scholarship. He was so committed to positioning himself for the scholarship that he took two days of vacation and didn't sleep for 48 hours to earn the Cyber FastTrack victory.
Elliott earned a bachelor's degree in computer science from 果冻传媒 in 2010 and completed a master's degree in computer science from Georgia Tech in December 2019. He coaches the cyber team for 果冻传媒's CyberHawks, which helped 果冻传媒 win the NSA Codebreaker Challenge in January.
"This is a well-earned opportunity for Jacob that will further enhance his cyber skills," said Dr. Bryson Payne, professor of computer science and director of 果冻传媒's Center for Cyber Operations Education. "We're thrilled to have him mentoring our defending champion NSA Codebreakers again this semester, plus the National Cyber Exercise team and the Corps of Cadets cyber unit."
Academy offers intro to national intelligence
The University of North Georgia will host its fourth annual National Intelligence Summer Academy from July 14-18. The first four days are at 果冻传媒's Cumming Campus, and the final day is at the Dahlonega Campus.
ARC includes almost 100 presentations
Students gave 69 poster presentations and 24 oral presentations at 果冻传媒鈥檚 30th Annual Research Conference, held March 21 at 果冻传媒's Dahlonega Campus.
Leadership luncheon honors 13 women
The ninth annual Women's Leadership Recognition Luncheon honored 10 student leaders and three alumnae March 2 at the 果冻传媒 Dining Hall Banquet Room at the Dahlonega Campus.
Payne named director of cyber institute
Dr. Bryson Payne has been named the director of the 果冻传媒 Institute for Cyber Operations, and Caitlin Conneely serves as deputy director for operations and outreach.