For the third year running, Lone Star College-University Park (LSC-University Park) and Civil Air Patrol's (CAP) Delta Composite Squadron joined forces to provide local middle and high school students with a free Air Force Association (AFA) CyberCamp, immersing them in a week of cybersecurity and national defense education from July 10-14.
"I’ve attended the CyberCamps for several years now, both as a student and an instructor,” said Cadet Maj. Luke Proske of CAP. “They taught me valuable cyber skills and even inspired me to apply for a cybersecurity degree at Lone Star College."
In the rapidly growing field of cybersecurity, the Greater Houston area experienced a surge of over 7,000 job openings in 2021. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a nearly 35 percent increase in nationwide demand for cybersecurity professionals by 2031.
“At LSC-University Park, we recognize that our world is always changing and developing,” said Steven Kahla, Ph.D., vice president of instruction at LSC-University Park. “The world of cybersecurity is a big part of those changes, and we believe part of our responsibility is equipping our students and the community with the tools to be successful. This partnership is very important to us, and we are honored to be involved with AFA CyberCamps.”
Throughout the week, campers learned about various cyber defense strategies, operating systems, and promising career paths. They also received a complete AFA curriculum and an overview of LSC-University Park’s numerous business, applied science, computing, and engineering technologies programs. LSC-University Park’s two-year Computer Science Program earns students an Associate of Science (AS) degree, which can serve as a steppingstone to a Bachelor of Science (BS) at a four-year college or university.
"The youth attending this camp are learning more than just the basics of online safety and cybersecurity,” said Maj. Stephen Shultz, CAP Director of Information Technology, Texas Wing, and adjunct professor at LSC-University Park. “They’re learning valuable skills that can lay the foundation for a career in technology. Lone Star College-University Park is a great location to host this cybersecurity camp. It has several programs that allow students to begin a career in the cybersecurity field. In addition to general areas of study like computer science and programming or cloud computing, it offers a specific cybersecurity program where you can earn a certification or even an associate or bachelor’s degree in the field."
As a non-profit founded in 1946, the AFA’s mission is to educate the public about aerospace technology and national security issues as well as promote the U.S. Air & Space Forces as the backbone of our national defense. AFA CyberCamp is designed for middle and high school students interested in cybersecurity as a possible career choice.
For information on taking Computer Science or other classes at LSC-University Park, visit LoneStar.edu/StartUP, call 281.290.2600 or email UPAdvising@LoneStar.edu. Academic advisers are available to assist students with questions about course selection, degree plans or the registration process.
Established in 2012, Lone Star College-University Park has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing and most innovative higher education institutions in the country. The college is devoted to impacting the community's prosperity and upward mobility through student success. LSC-University Park’s expert and compassionate faculty and staff provide students with holistic and immersive education and training in disciplines and industries that meet current and future workforce needs.
Located on the grounds of the former Compaq Computer Corporation and Hewlett Packard's world headquarters, LSC-University Park's facilities include the Center for Science & Innovation, the Energy & Manufacturing Institute, Learning Innovation Labs, and the Geology Rock Wall. It is also home to the University of Houston-NW Downtown, Lone Star Corporate College, iSchool, and YMCA Children's Academy.
Lone Star College (LSC) enrolls over 80,000 students each semester providing high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., serves as Chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and has been named a 2022 Great Colleges to Work For® institution by the Chronicle of Higher Education and recognized by Fortune Magazine and Great Place To Work® as one of this year’s Best Workplaces in Texas™. LSC consists of eight colleges, seven centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence and Lone Star Corporate College. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.