Aiken County, S.C. (WJBF) — A local cybersecurity firm is making an innovative contribution to USC Aiken. SteelGate donated $25,000 to USC Aiken to create scholarships for cybersecurity and computer science students. “We primarily partner with them on internships, but they also hear about our scholarships and programs and help build pipelines to keep these kids here in the workforce for this region. We recognized the need,” said Dr. Scott, Dean of Science and Engineering. McKay said.
The scholarship is aimed at computer science students with a 3.0 GPA and aims to award 25 awards of $1,000 each. “Last year we piloted a scholarship program with high schools and this year they seemed very interested,” he recalled.
SteelGate not only offers financial aid, but also internships and capstone projects that provide hands-on experience. “Students spend a year working on projects and collaborating with industry. And there are about 40 great industries in this region alone, and we're working with two of his industries to create an internship program. and capstone,” Dr. McKay said.
USCA's strategic location near the Georgia Cyber Center and upcoming facilities like the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative underscore USCA's role in the region's technology evolution. “Whether it's software engineering or AI data science, you're going to need cybersecurity experts, you're going to need computer science experts. You're also going to need cybersecurity, which is very important,” he added.
The recruitment process includes sending letters to high schools and using an online application form. Students can apply for scholarships this fall. These are expected to be awarded in fall 2025. Leaders aim to expand the program to all high schools and offer multiple scholarships.
