CompuGirls Hawaii announces free virtual program on cybersecurity, IT
Hawaii girls in grades 8 to 12 are invited to apply for the CompuGirls Hawaii Spring Camp 2021, a free virtual program aimed to introduce and educate Hawaii girls underrepresented in STEM (Science, Technology, Education and Science) education to cybersecurity and information technology.
Students will participate in nine two-hour sessions on Saturdays from Feb. 20 to April 24, and will be provided with full access to the curriculum and activities. The registration deadline is Feb. 12.
“CompuGirls Hawaii provides Hawaii girls with the unique opportunity to explore cybersecurity and IT with access to mentors, job shadowing and industry internships,” said Jodi Ito, chair of CyberHawaii and chief information security officer of the University of Hawaii.
The Spring Camp will include the use of innovative technologies such as Gather.Town, a virtual space for students to interact more effectively online combining video-calling with a 2D map, and micro:bit, a pocket-sized computer that introduces how software and hardware work together. In addition, students will be introduced to cryptography: the practice of encrypting and decrypting data; the role of ciphers in cybersecurity: guessing the cipher key to reveal encrypted data; whether cracking ciphers is ethical; and much more.
Students who do not have access to a laptop with USB ports and/or Wi-Fi must indicate that in their application and devices will be provided to them for the duration of the program.
The inaugural CompuGirls Hawaii Fall Cohort was led by Hawaii public school teachers selected as mentor-teachers to implement the curriculum and were responsible for student academic growth. The cohort had 49 students representing Oahu, Maui, Lanai and Hawaii Island with a large number identifying as Native Hawaiian or having more than one ethnicity.
For more information or to register, visit www.cyberhawaii.org/compugirls.
HILA seeks ‘green’ scholarship applicants
The Hawaii Island Landscape Association is offering two $1,000 scholarships to Hawaii Island seniors continuing their education in a “green” or agriculture-related field at any college or university.
The deadline to apply each year is July 31.
For more information or to download an application, visit www.hilahawaii.com.