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Punctuating the end of another successful academic year in the Shenandoah Valley, the Rockbridge Shenandoah AFCEA chapter is offering several information technology (IT) scholarships to college-bound seniors and collegiate freshmen, sophomores and juniors who are pursuing higher education degrees in the fall. All interested students should apply by Sunday, April 30, midnight.
These $1,000 IT scholarships honoring local fallen soldiers Chase Prasnicki and Andrew Ross will be announced on Saturday, May 13, at 11 a.m. during Community Cyber Day.
This is Rockbridge Shenandoah AFCEA’s signature event to be held 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Natural Bridge Hotel and its adjacent Cottage Hill area. In addition to the IT awards ceremony, Community Cyber Day will feature cyber education, communications, and technology displays featuring autonomously driven vehicles; robotics, aerial and aquatic drones; and cyber-related discussion forums. Details about the event will follow in the upcoming weeks.
For more information and to download the scholarship application forms, visit https:// rockbridge.afceachapters.org/ chapter-scholarships and click on the format link MS Word or pdf.
AFCEA is an international nonprofit professional association striving to connect people, ideas, and solutions across the globe. The organization provides networking and educational opportunities in an ethical forum to enable military, government, industry, and academia to align technology and strategy to meet the needs of those who serve. Having received its charter in March 2022, Rockbridge Shenandoah AFCEA focuses on academia, government, the intelligence community, and healthrelated agencies and activities at the federal, state, and local levels.
Since its inception, the chapter has been active in promoting cyber education opportunities throughout all phases of life, from elementary to college, as well as professional career development and post-retirement continuing education. With a focus on cyber security awareness, it has already established ties and connections with Virginia Military Institute, Washington and Lee University, Southern Virginia University, Mountain Gateway Community College, and Blue Ridge Community College.
In December 2022, the local chapter partnered with another AFCEA chapter to develop a live hackathon coding event designed for fifth grade elementary students. This year, it served all fifth-graders and their instructors in the Rockbridge County Public Schools. Last month, chapter members judged and awarded students special AFCEA memberships during the Shenandoah Regional Science Fair at James Madison University, and some of these awardees will display their science fair projects at the Community Cyber Day.
Recently, the chapter has launched plans for a mentorship program for emerging leaders which aims to help them secure internships and jobs in the IT and cyber-related fields. Interrelated efforts include plans for supporting small business, such as a fall networking event and an Industry Advisory Board in partnership with The Advancement Foundation, both supported by the AFCEA International SB Committee.
The chapter will also continue its “Cyber Minutes” local radio spots.
