Fairfax County Schools Earns CyberPatriot Center of Excellence Award -- THE Journal

Funding, Grants and Awards

Fairfax County Schools Earns CyberPatriot Center of Excellence Award

By Joshua Bolkan
07/28/14

Virginia's Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has been awarded a CyberPatriot Center of Excellence Award from the Air Force Association (AFA).

"CyberPatriot, the nation's largest and fastest growing youth cyber education program, is AFA's flagship science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) program dedicated to strengthening cyber skills among American youth," according to a news release. "Students in the program also gain valuable knowledge from the expertise of CyberPatriot's many supporters," such as Northrup Grumman, AT&T, Cisco, Microsoft, the Department of Homeland Security, Symantec and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, among others.

Schools and municipalities earn the CyberPatriot Center of Excellence Award by exceling "in emphasizing cybersecurity and developing the workforce of tomorrow," according to information on the organization's site.

Other centers of excellence include Los Angeles Unified School District Beyond the Bell Branch, the City of San Antonio, Spokane Public Schools and Rose State College.

Fairfax County Public Schools is the largest district in Virginia with approximately 188,000 students, 196 schools and 48 alternative programs and learning centers, more than 23,000 employees and an operating budget of about $2.5 billion. More information is available at fcps.edu.

About the Author

Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at [email protected].

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