The Cyber Innovation Center (CIC), a leading organization in cybersecurity education, has been awarded a grant of $30,000 from the AEP Foundation at the request of SWEPCO (Southwestern Electric Power Company). This grant will support CYBER.ORG, one of the CIC’s subsidiary organizations, by expanding its Project REACH program in Louisiana within Caddo Parish Public Schools.

CYBER.ORG’s Project REACH (Realizing Equitable Access to Cybersecurity in High School) is a feeder program created for minority-serving institutions to recruit a diverse body of K-12 students to pursue undergraduate cybersecurity degrees. Building on the initial success of Project REACH in Louisiana, this expansion will bring CYBER.ORG's curriculum, technical assistance, and professional development to a total of eight schools in Caddo Parish. The schools benefiting from the grant include Huntington, Southwood, Woodlawn, Turner, Keithville, Broadmoor STEAM, Northside, and Linwood Charter. Through this initiative, teachers and students in these schools will have access to workshops, initiatives, and educational resources focused on cybersecurity. 

“The AEP Foundation and SWEPCO’s support of K-12 cybersecurity education in the region is key to encouraging more students to pursue careers in an effort to solve the cyber workforce gap and continue to innovate within the industry,” said Laurie Salvail, Executive Director of CYBER.ORG. “Partnerships like this are critical to expanding access to the cybersecurity field in underserved communities through programs like Project REACH that work to diversify the cybersecurity talent pipeline within the state and beyond.”  

CYBER.ORG believes K-12 cyber education is essential in addressing the nation's cyber workforce shortage. Its mission is to ensure that every K-12 student gains foundational and technical cybersecurity knowledge and skills to pursue cybersecurity careers in greater numbers. 

"We are proud to support CYBER.ORG's efforts in expanding cybersecurity education in Caddo Parish schools,” said Michael Corbin, SWEPCO External Affairs Manager. “This aligns with our commitment to investing in initiatives that strengthen our communities and education system. We believe that by providing students with the skills and knowledge needed in the digital era, we are setting them up for success in the future." 

The $30,000 grant from the AEP Foundation is an important addition to the $15,000 grant the CIC received last year to pilot CYBER.ORG’s Project REACH program at three schools in the area. With continued support from organizations like the AEP Foundation, the CIC can further its mission to bridge the cyber workforce gap and empower the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.