“Cybersecurity is important to people of all ages and organizations of all sizes,” said Dr. Eman El-Sheikh, Deputy Director of the Cybersecurity Center. “The UWF Cybersecurity Center raises cybersecurity awareness, interest, and education locally and nationally through activities such as K-12 summer camps, free training for veterans, government officials, and other groups, and community events. This award recognizes the university's efforts to support its learners and community.
The UWF Cybersecurity Center received a second place award for outstanding community outreach efforts that promote cybersecurity awareness, education, and research, including:
- UWF Cyber Ambassador Program: Ambassadors visited K-12 schools in Northwest Florida to share their cybersecurity expertise and increase student cybersecurity awareness through engaging activities and demonstrations.
- UWF Night of Cyber: The UWF Cybersecurity Center promoted cybersecurity awareness, careers, educational programs, and resources to students and the community. Night of Cyber explores a variety of cyber career opportunities for high school students, college undergraduates, and adult learners. Students hear from industry experts and academic lecturers about opportunities and paths to achieving their dreams.
- GenCyber Road to Cyber Summer Camps: The UWF Cybersecurity Center hosted two GenCyber camps for rising 7th through 10th graders. Students were introduced to various aspects of cybersecurity work focusing on six GenCyber concepts: confidentiality, integrity, availability, defense in depth, keeping it simple, and thinking like the enemy. I did.
- Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) Florida Affiliate: The center established WiCyS Florida, and several faculty members serve as active leaders of the group. This affiliate provides networking, educational opportunities, and resources to help women start or advance careers in the cybersecurity field.
- CyberPatriot Competition: UWF hosted two high school teams for the CyberPatriot Competition. Students practice cyber skills and team building. The team was made up of both men and women and a variety of ethnic groups.
- Cybersecurity Awareness Month and Cybersecurity Career Awareness Week Champions: Activities include sharing best practices, information about cyber careers, promoting cybersecurity awareness and career events, and encouraging good cyber hygiene.
- Throughout the year, UWF and Center personnel participated in numerous community events, conferences, and media interviews to share their expertise and increase cybersecurity awareness and education.
The CAE-CD Community Outreach Award was established to recognize outstanding community outreach efforts that showcase and go beyond CAE-designated institutions. Institutions' outreach efforts are evaluated on their impact, diversity, and effort. Winners will be determined by a panel of peers representing his CAE-Cyber Defense Community of Practice across the country. More than 450 universities across the United States designated as CAE-C institutions were eligible for this award.
Award winners are determined by a panel of experts representing the national CAE-CD community of practice. This is the second year in a row that UWF has won this award, taking first place in 2023. UWF was designated a National Center of Excellence in Cybersecurity in 2016 and re-designated in 2022.
For more information about the UWF Cybersecurity Center, visit uwf.edu/cybersecurity.
