Texas Border Business
By Joey Gomez
MCALLEN, TEXAS – The South Texas College Cybersecurity program has extended its signature Hackathon event dedicated to cybersecurity and related professions, normally available to high school students, to middle school-age students.
More than 450 middle school students recently gathered at the college to learn about the field of cybersecurity and its career opportunities from STC faculty and to tour STC’s campus and Cybersecurity classroom and labs.
STC Cybersecurity Program Chair Francisco Salinas said the event was focused on raising awareness and exposing students at an early age to what cybersecurity entails.
“We are excited to host our first ever Hackathon event dedicated only to middle schoolers,” Salinas said. “This new event is all about introducing cybersecurity concepts at a level perfect for the middle school age group. We know it will be an incredible experience for the students in attendance.”
The junior Hackathon event welcomed students from Laredo, La Joya and PSJA ISD middle schools. Students in attendance participated in information sessions as well as hands-on activities and tours of the various technology resources available on campus.
At the Hackathon event, students were introduced to concepts like encryption as well as various activities to get them excited about all the opportunities available for them in the computer-related field.
Matthew Navarro, an STC alumnus currently employed as an information security analyst with the city of McAllen, attended the event and participated in informative presentations with students.
“I think it’s very important for students to participate in as many of these types of events as they can, imagine the networking opportunities and soft skills they are already receiving as middle schoolers,” said Navarro, who graduated from STC with an associate degree in Cybersecurity. “As long as the students stay interested and disciplined, I believe over time they can go far in this field. Your passion has to drive you if you choose to a career in cybersecurity.”
Devan Rodriguez, 12, from Raul Perales Middle School in Laredo, said he was fascinated by the idea of computers helping to protect people’s information.
“Privacy is on everyone’s mind these days and anything can happen at any time when it comes to someone using your information for bad things and nobody wants that to happen,” Rodriguez said. “Protecting people’s information is what interests me about cybersecurity.”
Eden Tijerina, 12, from Lamar Bruni Vergara Middle School in Laredo, says she is interested in learning about the new technology available in the computer field as a whole and seeing how it connects with a future career in animal wildlife.
“I used to think technology was more complicated than it really was, but I made it my goal to find out everything I could to attach it to animals. That’s why I’m here today.” Tijerina said. “I want to brush on my skills with coding and turn it into a career in wildlife biology.”
For more information on STC’s Cybersecurity program, visit www.southtexascollege.edu/academics/cybersecurity/.
