Nevada to Offer Cybersecurity Challenge to High School Girls

Nevada to Offer Cybersecurity Challenge to High School Girls

Nevada launches programs for high school girls to find careers in cybersecurity.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • January 22, 2018

Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval announced the launch of GirlsGoCyberState, an innovative opportunity for young women attending high school in Nevada to discover their talents in cybersecurity and learn about careers in the field through a no-cost online game called CyberStart.

“The new Nevada economy is innovation and technology-based, and every industry requires talented cyber security professionals. I’m excited to offer this opportunity for young ladies in the Silver State to explore the world of cyber security,” Governor Sandoval said.

Nevada was one of seven states that piloted CyberStart last summer. The program is designed to inspire the next generation of cybersecurity professionals while helping youth find out if a career in the cybersecurity industry is right for them.

Of more than 3,500 student who participated in the pilot nationwide, the top scorer was a student at the University of Nevada, Reno. Unfortunately, only five percent of the students who participated were young women.

Now, Nevada and other states are partnering to launch a program specifically for young women in high school.

All high school girls in grades 9 through 12 are invited to play. All that is required is a computer and an internet connection, no previous knowledge of cybersecurity is needed.

Each player or team starts as a "cyber protection agent" responsible for protecting an important operational base. The student then chooses and solves challenges, earning points along the way.

Young women in high school in Nevada who excel in the GirlsGoCyberStart challenge will have the chance to win computers and other prizes as well as a trip, with a parent, to the 2018 Women in Cyber Security Conference in Chicago. The three schools in Nevada that have the most participants will win awards of $2,500, $1,500 and $1,000.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

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