SteelGate LLC has recently donated $25,000 to the University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA) to start a new scholarship for students studying cybersecurity and computer science. SteelGate LLC is an international cybersecurity firm that has offices in the CSRA.
The SteelGate Cyber Scholarship will be given to those who are majoring in computer science and have a 3.0 or higher. The computer science major includes concentrations in cybersecurity and data science.
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“The need for IT, cyber, and computer science professionals is expected to continue to grow at a rate much faster than the national average, 15 to 30%, well past 2030,” said Dr. Scott McKay, USCA dean of sciences and engineering. “USCA continues to make it one of its highest priorities to work with cybersecurity firms and organizations to meet the ever-increasing need for graduates ready to combat the nation and world’s cyber threats. We are grateful for SteelGate’s investment in, and partnership with, USCA.”
USCA plans to award 25 students with scholarships of $1000, hoping to create a pipeline of students joining the cybersecurity workforce. The scholarship will primarily target high schools to promote cybersecurity and computer science. SteelGate also plans to work with USCA to offer internships to students.
SteelGate LLC is a certified service-disabled, veteran-owned small business that was established in 2019. They solve the most complex problems in the cybersecurity field. They have clients in 18 countries and 12 states.
USCA will soon be the home to the $60 million U.S. Department of Energy/Savannah River National Laboratory’s Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative. The S.C. National Guard plans to build a new $30 million Cyber Integration Center in 2025. This will serve as the new home of the Cyber Battalion.
These facilities will provide students with the opportunity to work on cybersecurity and computer science projects. USCA has also recently opened a Regional Security Operations Center, which provides students with hands-on learning opportunities.
