ODU announces $3.9M cybersecurity scholarship program

University received funding from the National Science Foundation

Published February 18, 2021 by Sydney Lake

Old Dominion University announced Thursday its School of Cybersecurity and Center for High Impact Practices has received a $3.9 million National Science Foundation grant to offer scholarships to cybersecurity students.

Through the grant, ODU will work with Tidewater Community College and Thomas Nelson Community College to provide full in-state tuition scholarships, an annual stipend ranging from $25,000 to $34,000 and a professional development allowance for 24 cybersecurity students. Scholarship recipients will participate in ODU’s “Preparing Future Cybersecurity LeADERS through Applied Learning Experiences” project.

“The Cyber LeADERS grant epitomizes ODU’s strengths in promoting student success through cross-institutional efforts and building programs that address the needs of the community,” ODU President John R. Broderick said in a statement. “This grant shows that others have recognized the potential of our School of Cybersecurity and the value of our LeADERS program.”

Scholars will be required to complete summer internships with government agencies and after graduation they will be required to work for the federal government for a specified amount of time (the number of years in which the student was funded).

The program is open to TCC and TNCC cybersecurity students planning to transfer to ODU’s cybersecurity program as well as juniors, seniors and graduate students already enrolled.