Rose State College Receives Largest Cyber Security Grant Published August 25, 2016

New scholarships transfer from college to federal workforce

Midwest City, Okla. –Rose State College received a $117,000 grant to support the education and training of three students pursuing a degree in cyber security. 

Funded by the National Security Agency (NSA), the grant will be supervised by Rose State’s Director, Ken Dewey.  “The grant is the first of its kind and serves as a great stepping stone for future grants,” says Dewey. 

The opportunity will provide students with funding to be used for tuition and fees, books, and includes a stipend of $22,500 for each student, and supplies for the college.  Once educational requirements are completed at Rose State, students will transfer to the University of Tulsa where they will receive their B.S. degree in Computer Science or Information Technology.  Upon graduation students will serve with a federal agency for three years. 

Dewey said there has been a rapid growth in the program this fall and attributes that to the quality of instruction, demand in the field, and availability of classes. Students enrolled in the Rose State program has increased to 220 declared majors in cyber/digital forensics.  An increase of 13.4% from Fall 2015.  “Rose State is working for additional grant funding to expand the program opportunity next year from three students to possibly seven,” Dewey says. 

The three scholarship recipients include David Magar, Colton Sutton, and Kasey Mills.  Magar claims, “I have always had a fascination for all things electronic.  Cyber Security was a natural way for me to pursue this fascination and turn it into a career.”  David also discussed how Rose State has provided him with many opportunities that he would have never received at other institutions.  Rose State’s Cyber Security program has provided an excellent foundation on which to continue his education and taught him to think outside the box.  He added, “I have not only received a quality education, but I have also grown as a person.”

Prospective students interested in this program or additional opportunities in the Cyber Security/Digital Forensics degree programs, should contact Ken Dewey at kdewey@rose.edu.