Brookdale to host cybersecurity camp for high school students

LINCROFT — Brookdale Community College is accepting applications for the new GenCyber Jersey Blues program, a free, two-week cybersecurity training camp opening this July on the college’s Lincroft campus.

The program, funded by grants from the National Security Administration and National Science Foundation, is open to local high school students and provides enrollees with an introduction to the fundamentals of cybersecurity.

Students will engage in hands-on cybersecurity activities, meet with nationally renown industry experts and take a field trip to the New Jersey Regional Operations and Intelligence Center. The program is led by faculty from Brookdale and Red Bank Regional High School.

There is no cost to apply or attend, and applicants are not required to have any prior cybersecurity or computer programming experience. Students of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

“I’m honored that Brookdale was one of only 68 sites across the nation selected by the National NSA to host a GenCyber camp,” said Brookdale engineering and technology professor Michael Quissaunee, who received a national cybersecurity award from the SANS institute in 2013.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for local students to gain valuable skills and learn more about this growing, vital industry.”

Interested high school students can apply to attend one of two, two-week camps to be held this summer: July 18-29 or Aug. 15-26. Camps are held Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to approximately 2:30 p.m. Stipends will be provided for lunch and roundtrip bus fare, if needed.

Applications are due by June 17. Space is limited. To apply, visit www.gencyber-nj.org and click “How to Apply.” For more information, contact Michael Qaissaunee at 732-224-2879 or [email protected].