{"id":158036,"date":"2024-08-27T08:10:43","date_gmt":"2024-08-27T14:10:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/?p=158036"},"modified":"2024-08-27T13:22:18","modified_gmt":"2024-08-27T19:22:18","slug":"cybersecurity-and-pre-collegiate-sponsor-spanish-speaking-cybersecurity-camp-for-local-middle-schoolers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/?p=158036","title":{"rendered":"Cybersecurity and Pre-Collegiate sponsor Spanish-speaking cybersecurity camp for local middle schoolers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"602\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-158042\" data-id=\"158042\" src=\"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Spanish-Camp-Group-1200x602.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Spanish-Camp-Group-1200x602.png 1200w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Spanish-Camp-Group-768x385.png 768w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Spanish-Camp-Group-1536x771.png 1536w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Spanish-Camp-Group-2048x1028.png 2048w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Spanish-Camp-Group-150x75.png 150w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Spanish-Camp-Group-1400x703.png 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Camp participants celebrate Graduation Day on Friday of the camp in front of the O\u2019Neil Cybersecurity Center<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"676\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-158044\" data-id=\"158044\" src=\"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Councilwoman-speaking-1200x676.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Councilwoman-speaking-1200x676.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Councilwoman-speaking-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Councilwoman-speaking-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Councilwoman-speaking-2048x1153.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Councilwoman-speaking-580x326.jpg 580w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Councilwoman-speaking-174x98.jpg 174w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Councilwoman-speaking-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Councilwoman-speaking-1400x788.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Councilwoman Yolanda Avila speaking to the campers<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"676\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-158043\" data-id=\"158043\" src=\"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Families-at-Graduation-1200x676.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Families-at-Graduation-1200x676.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Families-at-Graduation-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Families-at-Graduation-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Families-at-Graduation-2048x1153.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Families-at-Graduation-580x326.jpg 580w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Families-at-Graduation-174x98.jpg 174w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Families-at-Graduation-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Families-at-Graduation-1400x788.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Attendees enjoying the Family Graduation ceremony<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-158041\" data-id=\"158041\" src=\"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Steve-Cruz-Keynote-1200x900.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Steve-Cruz-Keynote-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Steve-Cruz-Keynote-1067x800.jpg 1067w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Steve-Cruz-Keynote-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Steve-Cruz-Keynote-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Steve-Cruz-Keynote-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Steve-Cruz-Keynote-326x245.jpg 326w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Steve-Cruz-Keynote-80x60.jpg 80w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Steve-Cruz-Keynote-174x131.jpg 174w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Steve-Cruz-Keynote-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Steve-Cruz-Keynote-70x53.jpg 70w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Steve-Cruz-Keynote-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Steve-Cruz-Keynote-1400x1050.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Keynote Speaker and alumnus Steve Cruz sharing his cyber experience<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1158\" height=\"1400\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-158047\" data-id=\"158047\" src=\"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Brains-Are-Awesom-1158x1400.jpeg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Brains-Are-Awesom-1158x1400.jpeg 1158w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Brains-Are-Awesom-662x800.jpeg 662w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Brains-Are-Awesom-635x768.jpeg 635w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Brains-Are-Awesom-1271x1536.jpeg 1271w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Brains-Are-Awesom-1694x2048.jpeg 1694w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Brains-Are-Awesom-124x150.jpeg 124w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Brains-Are-Awesom-1400x1692.jpeg 1400w, https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Brains-Are-Awesom.jpeg 1915w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1158px) 100vw, 1158px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">A middle schooler having fun at the camp<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the first event of its kind in Colorado, the UCCS Cybersecurity Programs Office (CPO) and the UCCS Pre-Collegiate Office sponsored a weeklong cybersecurity camp conducted completely in Spanish for local Spanish-speaking middle school students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hosted at the Kevin W. O\u2019Neil Cybersecurity Center, the camp took place in late July and was designed to introduce Spanish-speaking middle school students to the fundamentals of cybersecurity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The camp consisted of a blend of classroom learning, online resources and hands-on activities, including material useable both during and after the camp, to extend the learning experience for campers beyond the classroom. A variety of dedicated community partners and resources were instrumental in establishing the camp and making it a success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;We are thankful to our community-wide planning committee, sponsors and several Spanish-speaking staff and students for making this happen, including the National Cybersecurity Center (NCC), Carrie McKee of Rocky Mountain Public Media and our sponsors: El Pomar Foundation, World Affairs Council, Lockheed Martin, Cengage, Jacobs Engineering, Tanium, C Mission, CSD Cyber and Silverback Consulting. This camp, in particular, was a community-wide effort, as it is the first of its kind. UCCS simply could not do it without these amazing partners!&#8221; said Gretchen Bliss, Director of UCCS Cybersecurity Programs Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The weeklong camp emphasized family participation and included students\u2019 family members throughout, with a graduation ceremony on the last day to cap off a week full of activities. The ceremony was also a fully Spanish-speaking event and featured speakers sharing their own experiences, such as Steve Cruz, a UCCS cybersecurity alumnus who earned his Ph.D. in cybersecurity and is now doing post-doctoral work at Notre Dame University. Community members Longinos Gonzales, El Paso County Commissioner, and Yolanda Avila, a Colorado Springs councilwoman from District 4, spoke as well, and Provost Lynn Vidler, Ph.D., joined the camp at the week&#8217;s beginning to welcome the students in Spanish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;We also want to thank the Catalyst Campus for Technology &amp; Innovation, as main sponsor of the National Science Foundation RISE Grant, for assisting in funding the camp at UCCS, and also in helping UCCS extend a second &#8216;sister&#8217; camp to Pueblo. The funding from the RISE grant allowed us to share our curriculum, planning and resources with Ralf Schwoerer of Silverback Consulting in Pueblo, who held an all-Spanish camp the week after the UCCS camp at Water Tower Place for the Pueblo Spanish-speaking community that was also well attended,&#8221; Bliss said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With the success and community interest that this cybersecurity camp (and the others held over the summer) generated, UCCS is planning to host several other Spanish-speaking cyber events in 2025. To learn more about these K-12 educational opportunities, email cyber@uccs.edu or <a href=\"https:\/\/cybersecurity.uccs.edu\/events\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">visit their event page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About Cybersecurity at UCCS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">UCCS is a recognized cybersecurity education leader in the region, awarding hundreds of degrees each year in cybersecurity fields at bachelor\u2019s, master\u2019s and doctoral levels. UCCS cybersecurity programs train security professionals who work to ensure the nation\u2019s security, support faculty research and strategic cybersecurity partnerships with industry, government, military and academic institutions, including the U.S. Space Force and the National Cybersecurity Center. \u202fDue to generous Colorado state funding of cybersecurity education, UCCS students are eligible for significant financial aid towards security degree scholarships. <a href=\"https:\/\/cybersecurity.uccs.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Learn more about&nbsp;Cybersecurity Programs<\/strong><\/a> at UCCS.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>In the first event of its kind in Colorado, Cybersecurity Programs Office (CPO) and the Pre-Collegiate Office sponsored a weeklong cybersecurity camp conducted completely in Spanish for local Spanish-speaking middle school students.  <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/?p=158036\" title=\"Cybersecurity and Pre-Collegiate sponsor Spanish-speaking cybersecurity camp for local middle schoolers\">(More)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":158119,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1,429,12,417],"tags":[339,438,332,186,361],"class_list":["post-158036","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-distinctive-programs","category-events","category-strategic-plan","tag-cybersecurity","tag-kevin-w-oneil-cybersecurity-education-and-research-center","tag-more-news","tag-pre-collegiate-development-program","tag-distinctive-programs"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Abby-Copy-of-Communique-Featured-Image-83.png","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1mBpJ-F6Y","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158036","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=158036"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158036\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":158078,"href":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158036\/revisions\/158078"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/158119"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=158036"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=158036"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=158036"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}