AFA's CyberPatriot VI Hits 500 Teams, Successfully Exhibits at Delaware DigiGirlz Event

ARLINGTON, Va., May 9, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Air Force Association's CyberPatriot program recently participated in the Delaware DigiGirlz Day on May 3, 2013 as one of only four of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs invited to participate. The focus of the event was to encourage young women to explore the opportunities available in STEM fields through exploration of robotics, video game creation, and cybersecurity.

CyberPatriot presented attendees with cyber security tips, gave a hands-on overview of the CyberPatriot competition program, and provided more information on career and internship opportunities within the cyber defense sector. Presenting at the DigiGirlz event was the first step in the CyberPatriot Middle School Program, which will continue to rollout through the summer and into the fall.

"DigiGirlz Day was a great opportunity for CyberPatriot to not only reach younger students in 8^th and 9^th grade, but also to highlight girls specifically," says Bernie Skoch, CyberPatriot Commissioner. "The CyberPatriot program welcomes students of both genders, of course, and we are excited to be able to show these young women that they can embrace our competition and make it their own. Cyber security is a threat that anyone can tackle as long as they receive the necessary training. We believe with the extension of our program to the middle schools across our country that CyberPatriot will continue to prepare younger generations to become to become future cyber defenders for our nation."

Registration for the CyberPatriot VI competition season is well underway with over 500 teams registered from almost all 50 states with the exception of North Dakota and West Virginia. Registered teams also represent Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Canada, Japan, and South Korea.

CyberPatriot is the premiere national high school cyber defense competition created by the Air Force Association to inspire high school students toward careers in cybersecurity or other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines critical to our nation's future. Its presenting sponsor is the Northrop Grumman Foundation. The program has grown from only eight teams of Florida high school students in 2009 to a national competition with over 1,200 registered teams in all 50 states and Canada in 2012. For more information please visit www.uscyberpatriot.org or contact [email protected].

The Air Force Association is a non-profit, independent, professional military and aerospace education association. Our mission is to promote a dominant United States Air Force and a strong national defense, and to honor Airmen and our Air Force Heritage. To accomplish this, we:

• EDUCATE the public on the critical need for unmatched aerospace power and a technically superior workforce to ensure U.S. national security.
• ADVOCATE for aerospace power and STEM education.
• SUPPORT the Total Air Force family and promote aerospace education.

AFA has 200 chapters nationally and internationally representing more than 105,000 members. Visit AFA at www.afa.org

SOURCE Air Force Association