The goal of cybersecurity summer camps is to excite students about cybersecurity and to provide students the opportunity to learn about cybersecurity and related computational science skills. For example, student campers also learn about programming, networks and the Internet. Most importantly, they learn how cybersecurity is deeply interwoven into everyday life. This last summer, 70 high school students participated in the week-long event [blinded].
The cybersecurity summer camp curriculum is facilitated by junior counselors (students who have completed high school that have a strong interest in cybersecurity), counselors (college students with cybersecurity experience), and university faculty & staff. This paper studies the impact of having counselors and junior counselors integrated into the cybersecurity summer camp experience and evaluates the impact that being a counselor has on the students that participate in that role. These impacts facilitate cybersecurity community engagement.
Ben Bernard is a Doctoral Candidate in the Department of Computer Science at North Dakota State University and is the Computer Services Specialist for the Department of Architecture & Landscape Architecture at NDSU with fifteen years of service. Bernard has been professionally recognized for his contributions to NDSU's new cybersecurity educational programs and is the first to be awarded an MS in Computer Science with an Cybersecurity focus at NDSU. His research interests bring new technologies together with creative education and outreach implementations, frequently featuring digital fabrication, augmented & virtual reality, and cybersecurity education. Bernard leads a team of graduate & undergraduate design students to research and implement advanced design technologies.
Jeremy Straub is the Associate Director of the NDSU Institute for Cyber Security Education and Research and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the North Dakota State University. He holds a Ph.D. in Scientific Computing, an M.S. and an M.B.A. and has published over 40 journal articles and over 120 full conference papers, in addition to making numerous other conference presentations. Straub’s research spans the gauntlet between technology, commercialization and technology policy. In particular, his research has recently focused on cybersecurity topics including intrusion detection and forensics, robotic command and control, aerospace command and 3D printing quality assurance. Straub is a member of Sigma Xi, the AAAS, the AIAA and several other technical societies, he has also served as a track or session chair for numerous conferences.
Pranay Kumar Marella is an undergraduate researcher at Mississippi State University studying for his Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering. His research interests are in image steganography, Docker, and cybersecurity education. Currently, he is conducting research on Docker registries.
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