CANTON – SUNY Canton is a partner in a new federal Cyber Service Academy initiative to provide full scholarships and resources for students enrolled in or looking to join the Cybersecurity program.

During an announcement at Mohawk Valley Community College on October 6, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand encouraged students to apply for the program.

"There are nearly 40,000 unfilled public-sector cybersecurity positions, leaving our country with a severe shortage of cyber personnel needed to protect ourselves from adversaries like Russia," Senator Gillibrand said in a news release. "The Cyber Service Academy will create a pipeline for a talented, highly trained cyber workforce, granting one year of free college for every year of subsequent public service."

Gillibrand created the Cyber Service Academy scholarship program through her work on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Successful applicants are provided a scholarship covering the total cost of tuition, select books and fees, a stipend, purchase of a laptop, and more. Successful applicants incur a service commitment that starts after their degree is awarded.

"SUNY Canton proudly supports the Cyber Service Academy scholarship program championed by Senator Gillibrand," said SUNY Canton President Zvi Szafran. "These scholarships will allow our students to access invaluable opportunities in cybersecurity. By empowering the next generation in this area, we are both meeting the demands of today and are shaping the technology workforce for the future."

For more information about the Cyber Service Academy, please visit Senator Gillibrand's website, which includes an application link.

SUNY Canton's program is offered as part of its Center for Criminal Justice, Intelligence, and Cybersecurity. It received a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Designation from the National Security Agency (NSA), which signifies the program's excellence and demonstrates it aligns with national standards for cyber defense.

Most of the eight SUNY-affiliated colleges participating in the Cyber Service Academy initiative have an NSA designation, allowing inter-college collaboration. SUNY Canton currently partners with UAlbany's College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity to provide students with a seamless and streamlined route to pursue their graduate degrees.