Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi earn their Cyber Patch through day of hands-on learning with Mississippi Cyber Initiative
The Mississippi State University-led Mississippi Cyber Initiative, in collaboration with the Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi, recently led a day of activities focused on cyber skills and careers at the Mississippi Cyber Center Annex on the campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
Twenty Girl Scouts, hailing from the state’s Gulf Coast as well as Meridian, Jackson, Hattiesburg and George County, visited the MS Cyber Center Annex this past Saturday [Sept. 7] for a day of learning, exploring, and getting hands-on instruction in a series of labs promoting digital technologies and cybersecurity training.
With the support of Gulfport Police Departments Crime Scene Unit, Mississippi Attorney General’s Office (MS AGO) Cyber Crimes Division (CCD), FBI and members of Keesler Air Force Base, the Mississippi Cyber Initiative hosted two tech immersions where the young women received the opportunity to earn their Cyber Patch. Through a series of labs, the Girl Scouts experienced the workings of digital forensics and 3D crime scene mapping while also learning about cyber citizenship, cyber hygiene, and cyber safety.
The Girl Scouts were also provided an opportunity to ask questions to an all-female professional cyber and technology panel composed of members of Keesler AFB 333 Training Squadron (TRS) and FBI field agent who offered insights to pathways and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Computing (STEM+C).
For the accompanying Girl Scout leaders and parents, Dave Allen, MS AGO Cyber Field Operations Director provided a cybercrimes brief, stressing the importance of keeping engaged with young adult’s use of digital technology and online cyber safety. Allen’s brief focused on adult awareness of child predators and how to help report incidents to local and state agencies.
The Mississippi Cyber Initiative thanks Laurel Jalufka, and the Girld Scouts of Greater Mississippi for visiting the MS Cyber Center Annex. A special thanks to our speakers and collaborators, Morgan Graham, Gulfport Police Department Crime Scene Analyst, Lieutenant Theodisha Etienne, 333 TRS, Captain Lauren Goodhue, 333 TRS, FBI Special Agent Hillary Ladner and Dave Allen, MS AGO Cyber Field Operations Director.
These types of events highlight the importance of providing knowledge to young women exploring careers in today’s interconnected world, which is one reason MCI regularly conducts outreach activities aimed at K-12 audiences.
For additional information and opportunities for academic institutions or scholastic programs to experience MCI’s cyber labs, contact MCI Technical Manager Martin Rivera at mrivera@research.msstate.edu.
