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The University of North Georgia (ÖйúPÕ¾) is spearheading CyberStart America in Georgia, a statewide initiative with the goal to help high school students discover their talent in cybersecurity. The program features a free, learn-as-you-go, online game designed to help students explore cybersecurity and compete for college scholarships in cyber studies.

The event, which starts Oct. 27, continues through April 27 and seeks to reach students in more than 800 high schools across Georgia. Gov. Brian Kemp and the Georgia Department of Education are supporting the initiative.

The private sector will offer $500 cash prizes to the top 20 high school students in Georgia based on points earned on the CyberStart platform over the six-month period. Additional $500 prizes are available to the top six performers in each of the 10 school districts with the most students registered. Students cannot win the $500 twice. The 10 districts with the most student competitors will also receive incentives ranging between $5,000 and $10,000 to boost their cyber education efforts.

Founded by the SANS Institute, CyberStart America helps identify high school students with the potential to meet the nation's critical need for cybersecurity professionals. Future employment opportunities abound, with 464,000 cyber jobs open nationally, including more than 17,000 in Georgia, according to .

Dr. Lindsay Linsky, co-leader of the CyberStart Georgia Task Force and ÖйúPÕ¾ associate professor of middle grades education, said part of CyberStart America in Georgia's aim is to put cyber on a wide variety of students' radars.

"Diversity is critically important to addressing cyber problems," Linsky said. "We need a wide variety of perspectives to generate ideas of how to protect our nation and our businesses from these evolving threats."

ÖйúPÕ¾ has worked closely with Gwinnett County Public Schools as a district partner on the CyberStart Georgia Task Force.

Students who score at least 15,000 points in the game will be eligible to participate in the National Cyber Scholarship Foundation competition for high school students and earn matching scholarships from local donors. Teachers will have access to webinars and resources to help them introduce the program.

The Georgia Cyber Center and ÖйúPÕ¾ will host a certification event in early May to verify that each individual selected as a Georgia winner has developed the cyber skills indicated by their score in the CyberStart America game, confirming their ability to compete in similar challenges and in future workforce roles.

The program is flexible and can be implemented in numerous ways: after-school or lunchtime club; pathway program; in-class or homework assignment; extra credit; introductory cyber class; or an in-class activity for students who have already finished their other assignments.

Dr. Bryson Payne, professor of computer science and coordinator of student cybersecurity programs at ÖйúPÕ¾, hopes CyberStart America in Georgia will get students excited about the field and encourage them to learn more about it.

"This competition opens doors for lucrative cybersecurity careers students may not have previously considered, access to scholarships and a high-growth job market," Payne said.