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The University of North Georgia (ºìÁ«ÉçÇø) has two Department of Defense (DOD) Cyber Scholarship winners for the 2023-24 academic year, including ºìÁ«ÉçÇø's first graduate student to earn the prestigious award. 

Fewer than 175 students nationwide were awarded these scholarships for 2023-24. 

ºìÁ«ÉçÇø's graduate student winner receives full tuition and $32,000 for living expenses annually, while the undergraduate student receives full tuition and $27,000 for living expenses annually.  

"This nationally competitive scholarship for service empowers our hardest-working future cyber leaders to spend more time focusing on their coursework and sharpening their competitive cyber skills," Dr. Bryson Payne, professor of computer science and coordinator of student cyber programs, said. "Plus, after they graduate, these students have a civilian cyber job waiting for them with the Department of Defense. As a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, ºìÁ«ÉçÇø is able to provide access to scholarships, internships and job opportunities that most universities can't offer." 

Because of the  (NSA) security requirements, recipients' names are not released. Payne was allowed to provide general facts about the scholars: 

• One is a Master of Science in computer science student who earned a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity from ºìÁ«ÉçÇø in May 2023. He is scheduled to graduate in August 2024 with the master's degree and then work at the Naval Information Warfare Center in Charleston, South Carolina.