The University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana will offer a free two-week GenCyber Cybersecurity summer camp on July 14-17 and July 21-24, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. each day, on the UAHT Texarkana campus. The GenCyber camp aims to provide hands-on training and promote education and career pathways in cybersecurity, equipping the next generation with the vital skills needed to address growing digital security challenges. The camp is open to rising students in grades 7-12 and will be offered at no cost to students and their families.
The camp is available to students from the following school districts:
- Ashdown
- Fouke
- Genoa
- Hope
- Liberty-Eylau
- Nashville
- Pleasant Grove
- TASD
- TISD
The GenCyber camp is offered as part of a grant awarded to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock by the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity, which aims to provide innovative summer programs for students seeking to learn the latest skills in cybersecurity. The camp will be directed by Brittni Hardie, UAHT Cybersecurity Program Director, and Jennifer Teresa, UAHT Dean of Business and Industry Programs. Hardie said she is beyond excited about bringing this cybersecurity camp to our community. “It’s not just about teaching skills—it’s about opening doors, sparking curiosity, and showing our students that they have a place in the world of technology,” she said. “This is a chance to inspire young minds and help them build a brighter future."
The program focuses on GenCyber Cybersecurity Concepts:
- Defense in Depth
- Confidentiality
- Integrity
- Availability
- Think Like an Adversary
- Keep it Simple
Campers will hear from industry experts about education and career opportunities. They will learn about cybersecurity through state-of-the-art, hands-on activities that allow them to experience cyberattacks from both the victim's and the adversary's perspectives. At the end of the camp, students will receive a certificate of achievement and present a security research topic, guided by a mentor.
After the summer programs are complete, UA Little Rock will host GenCyber Alumni events, featuring workshops, guest speakers, networking opportunities, and a mentoring program that pairs GenCyber alums with cybersecurity professionals and UA Little Rock students. They will also partner with the Arkansas Department of Education to develop GenCyber-inspired resources for K-12 classrooms in Arkansas.
Registration is required, and only 50 spots are available. Visit uaht.edu/gencyber to register. For more information, contact Brittni Hardie at brittni.hardie@uaht.edu or 870-216-2919
