Contact: Phil Hearn
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Nearly a dozen Mississippi State students pursuing careers in computer security are receiving full nationally competitive scholarships for the 2006-07 academic year.
Offered through the university's Center for Computer Security Research, the Cyber Corps Scholarship Program provides annual stipends ranging $10,000-$15,000 over nine-month periods to selected undergraduates and graduate students.
The awards include the U.S. Department of Defense's Information Assurance Scholarship and National Science Foundation's Scholarship for Service programs. Since 1998, they have provided millions of dollars to the MSU center through the Federal Cyber Service Training and Education Initiative.
"Both scholarships require a focus on study in the area of computer security and information assurance, and require subsequent service with the DoD or some other federal service," explained center director Ray Vaughn.
The center is a part of MSU's department of computer science and engineering, which is led by Julia Hodges. The widely acclaimed program has been certified as a National Center of Excellence by the National Security Agency and U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
"It is not an overstatement to say that receiving these scholarships have been life-changing experiences for many of our students, and they have been extremely pleased by the opportunities provided," said Hodges.
Vaughn, who also is the university's Billie J. Ball Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, said the Cyber Corps scholarships pay all tuition, fees, supplies and a stipend while the students are in school.
"The stipends vary between $10,000 and $15,000 for a nine-month year, depending on which scholarship and the academic status of the student," he said, noting graduate students usually receive $3,000-$5,000 more than undergraduates.
During summers between semesters, the scholars work as interns with government agencies and are paid separately for that work, with amounts varying according to the agency and its location. They also must agree to work for the federal government one year for every year or part of a year that a scholarship is awarded.
"This means the scholarships can be worth $50,000 over two years for a graduate student," said Vaughn, a retired Army colonel who led the MSU center to NSA certification in 2001. "But, what's really important is that, once they graduate, they have a career waiting.
"We have had students work for the Army, Navy, Air Force, the national intelligence community, the Sandia National Laboratory, and other exciting places," added the Hattiesburg native.
Vaughn said this year's selections represent a cross-section of academic disciplines that include computer science and engineering, and electrical and computer engineering, both of which are in the Bagley College of Engineering. They also come from the management information systems department in the College of Business and Industry.
"I have served on the selection committee for this scholarship in the past, so I know how competitive the process is--and that each of you has a strong academic record or you would not have been chosen," associate engineering dean Donna Reese said in her note of congratulations to each winner.
The 2006-07 Cyber Corps/Information Assurance Scholarship Program winners include (by hometown):
CORDOVA, Tenn.--Murrell T. Clark III, a CSE senior and the son of Taylor and Sandra Clark.
FAYETTE--Leon T. Bullen, an ECE graduate student and the son of Leon and Mary Bullen.
GREENVILLE--Wesley Huang, an ECE graduate student and the son of Terry and Louisa Huang. He is receiving the award for the second year.
TUPELO--Antwan Foster, a CSE graduate student and the son of Vergie Foster. He is receiving the award for the fourth year.
The Cyber Corp/Scholarship for Service group includes:
BRANDON--Elizabeth A. Dana, an MIS sophomore and the daughter of Margaret Dana.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala.--Laura Leigh Hall, an ECE graduate student and the daughter of George and Barbara Hall. Her award begins in January 2007.
POPLARVILLE--Christopher L. Aube, a CSE sophomore and the son of Jonothan Aube and Doyla Ashe.
RAYMOND--John M. Stewart, a CSE senior and the son of John and Mary Stewart.
STARKVILLE--Chamel L. Young, a CSE graduate student and the daughter of Glen and Darlene Young.
STEENS--Brian T. Sanders, an MIS graduate student and the son of Ronald and Lena Sanders.
TEXARKANA, Texas--Michael A. King, a CSE sophomore and the son of Bill and Pamela King.
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For more information, contact Dr. Vaughn at (662) 325-7450 or Vaughn@cse.msstate.edu.