Local high school students learn to be “ethical hackers”

Westchester County students participate in a free cybersecurity summer camp with a grant from

National Security Agency at SUNY Westchester

SUNY Westchester Community College (SUNY WCC) hosted approximately 50 high school students for a free cybersecurity summer camp that exposed them to this growing information technology sector. GenCyber ​​Camp was made possible by a grant from the National Security Agency (NSA).

The camp, which ran July 5-15 at SUNY WCC’s main campus in Valhalla, allowed students to
learn about hacking, manipulation, viruses, metadata and what it’s like to be a computer scientist
professional in the ever-changing cybersecurity landscape. SUNY WCC students in college
cybersecurity program and professors mentored and led students in computer “villages” that were
uniquely designed computing challenges designed to engage students in hands-on experiences that
inspire young people to consider future studies and careers in cybersecurity.

“We are delighted to be able to offer this exciting opportunity to high school students interested in a field
which is so vital to our nation’s security and economy,” said Professor John Watkins, Program Director of
Cybersecurity program at SUNY WCC. “Our goal is to provide students with a wide range of skills to
continue their studies, if they wish. I hope they will continue to study cybersecurity at SUNY
WCC, one of the few community colleges in the nation to receive the Center for Academic Excellence
designation in Cyber ​​Defense Education by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National
Security agency.

This summer’s GenCyber ​​students will participate in a post-camp in the fall that builds on the skills learned
during summer. To learn more about GenCyber, visit https://www.gen-cyber.com/about/