Students from Augusta University’s School of Computer and Cyber Sciences have been awarded nine Department of Defense Information Assurance Scholarships out of only 50 such scholarships awarded nationally.

The purpose of the Information Assurance Scholarship Program is to increase the number of qualified students entering the fields of information assurance, information technology and cybersecurity to meet the DOD’s increasing dependence on cybersecurity for war fighting and the security of its information infrastructure.

Eight students are first-time recipients (Leigh Alford, Michael Badke, Shelby Fink, Preston Keel, Eric Kilgore, Dawn Kimura, Robert McManus and Nick Wylds), and one is a returning scholarship recipient (Matthew Atkinson).

“We are so proud of each of these students and their incredible accomplishments achieving such a prestigious scholarship,” said Joanne Sexton, founding dean of the School of Computer and Cyber Sciences.

Scholarship recipients will receive the cost of tuition and books as well as a stipend to cover room and board. Recipients are also required to work with a Department of Defense entity for every year of scholarship awarded.

To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must be in the third or fourth year of an undergraduate degree program in cybersecurity or the first or second year of a master’s degree program in information security management. Applicants must also be at least 18 years old and an enrolled student at a Center of Academic Excellence designated institution.

Augusta University was the only school in the state of Georgia to have students awarded this scholarship in 2017.