MARTINSVILLE, Va. – In the cyber security program at the Career Academy in Martinsville, students in the 11th and 12th grades learn the skills they need to keep their electronic devices safe from threats on the internet.
As part of the activities for Cyber Security Awareness Month that took place in October, the students made flyers that included internet safety advice.
“Last year, we didn’t get a lot of outreach towards social media and the the outside community,” said Kailei Minter, 12th grade cyber security student. “This year, we’ve been posting on Twitter and Facebook on our Career Academy pages, and we just want to get the awareness out. If you need help, we’re always here and we can always help anybody no matter what their age is, no matter where they come from.”
The fliers are now displayed for other kids to see at a number of different schools located around the county.
“The biggest thing is phishing. A lot of people actually get tricked into clicking things that are scams. That’s probably the most known aspect of cybersecurity awareness. You also have to update your password. You have to update your software and even use multi-factor authentication, which is basically letting your accounts know that you’re actually you,” explained Minter.
In addition, the students studying cyber security are making Christmas decorations with the help of 3-D printers, which they will then sell to members of the community in order to collect funds for their programs. The pupils will be able to practice running a company thanks to the campaign.
“It does help you take your own creation and put it into the real world,” said Logan Surber, a 12th grade cyber security student. “It is a very cheap and quick way to do it. Mostly because metal is really expensive, whereas the deer itself was about $2 in materials. Then just add $1 for profit,” said Minter.
“It’s really helpful when we’re designing products and we want to sell and fundraise for our program. We actually get to learn how to run a business, which is actually something that not a lot of kids get to experience in high school. So, it’s a really good opportunity,” added Surber.
To purchase an ornament, visit the Career Academy on November 19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. as part of the school’s Pictures with Santa Paws event.
