GRAMBLING, La. – Grambling State University’s Department of Computer Science and Digital Technologies expanded its cybersecurity education and workforce development efforts this summer through a series of hands-on programs designed to prepare high school students, Grambling State students and high school teachers for an increasingly digital future.
The summer series began with a May 26-June 18 CompTIA certification preparation program for Grambling State Computer Science and Digital Technologies students. The department then hosted three high school cybersecurity camp sessions June 22-26, July 6-10 and July 13-17, before concluding with a workshop for high school teachers July 20-24.
The programs introduced participants to cybersecurity fundamentals, Linux, network discovery, cyber defense, ethical hacking concepts, digital safety and emerging career pathways in one of the nation’s fastest-growing technology fields.
“Jobs in the cybersecurity field require that type of training and certification, so that camp was important for our current students,” said Dr. Bharat Rawal, head of Grambling State’s Department of Computer Science and Digital Technologies. “It was a longer, more in-depth camp, and we were proud to have three students earn certification after completing the camp and certification exam.”
During the high school camps, students participated in interactive lessons and web-based training through platforms such as TryHackMe, a browser-based cybersecurity training platform that uses hands-on labs and guided learning to help users build cyber skills.
“They learned how to hack, how to defend and how to protect,” Rawal said. “It’s game-based, which makes it fun. Students have to determine what action to take based on what they are seeing and dealing with.”
Supported through grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education, the camps also served as a recruitment and outreach opportunity for the University. Participants came primarily from north Louisiana, with some students traveling from Texas, giving them an early look at Grambling State’s academic programs, campus environment and opportunities in technology.
Rawal said the camps continue to grow in interest and impact as more students and educators seek opportunities to better understand cybersecurity.
“The camps have been growing in the number of attendees every year, so they seem to be heading in the right direction,” Rawal said. “These camps are succeeding, and that is good to see.”
The workshop for high school teachers extended the impact of the summer programming by helping educators strengthen cybersecurity awareness and bring foundational cyber concepts, safety practices and career exploration back to their classrooms.
Rawal said the need for cybersecurity education will continue to increase as organizations respond to artificial intelligence-powered threats, increased connectivity, data protection challenges, zero-trust security models and quantum-resistant cryptography.
“That means more and more people will be needed in the cybersecurity world,” Rawal said. “So, it’s important to spread cybersecurity awareness, and that makes these camps so important.”
Through its summer cybersecurity programming, Grambling State University continues to prepare students, support educators, expand access to technology education and help build a stronger cybersecurity workforce for Louisiana and beyond.
To learn more about Grambling State University’s Department of Computer Science and Digital Technologies, visit gram.edu.