Registration has opened for CyberStart America (formerly Girls Go CyberStart), CDT said Tuesday in a post on its TechBlog. The program recently began its 2021 program year and is designed to give U.S. high school students free access to “cybersecurity learning resources written and developed by industry professionals” that can also be used to train and qualify for a National Cyber Scholarship. CDT said its Director Amy Tong, who is also the state’s chief information officer, will serve again this year “as sponsor for the state of California.”
The program, CDT said, offers students more than 200 “real-world gaming challenges” designed to make cybersecurity fun for people of all skill levels. Students with no technical education or experience are welcome. Rebranded and expanded to include high school boys, the program now offers a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) community — and still has a girls-only community.
Students and advisers — teachers or parents — don’t need any prior experience; adviser materials are provided by CyberStart America. Last year, 269 teams and 240 girls participated in the competition nationally, with California ranking third for total participation. Across the state, 29 teams and 102 individuals “qualified to participate in the National Cyber Scholarship Program.” Registration for the CyberStart Game closes April 4; the cut-off date to qualify for the National Cyber Scholarship Competition is March 8. Register here.
