GenCyber youth camp teaches teens about cybersecurity

Gallaudet is investing in the next generation of cybersecurity experts. This summer, 18 deaf and hard of hearing high school students from around the country attended the week-long GenCyber youth camp. Campers learned cybersecurity and cryptography fundamentals, giving them exposure to a rapidly growing field.

GenCyber is one of several summer camps hosted by Gallaudet’s Youth Programs. The camps are designed to expose deaf and hard of hearing teens to university-level instruction in various topics. Campers also get to experience the Gallaudet campus and Washington, D.C.

GenCyber classes were taught by faculty and staff at Gallaudet. Todd Bonheyo, ’16, a math teacher, was impressed by the students.

“They were motivated to learn and asked good questions,” Bonheyo said. “We’re encouraging the campers to pursue careers in cybersecurity. It’s a hot field, but deaf and hard of hearing students don’t often get exposed to it, especially through intensive camps like this.”

Learning cybersecurity

The GenCyber students stayed in a dorm during their week on campus. Every morning, they gathered in the I. King Jordan Student Academic Center (SAC) to begin classes like Cybersecurity Fundamentals, taught by Information Security Officer Jared Evans. In addition to learning about big picture concepts of cybersecurity, students learned how to protect their own information, such as setting a secure password for online accounts.

Dr. Christopher Hayes, ’12, a mathematics instructor, taught Cryptography, a foundational cybersecurity skill. The class took a field trip to the National Cryptography Museum to dive even deeper into the topic. The students also learned basic coding in the SAC computer lab. Bonheyo taught them how to use Python, one of the most popular cybersecurity programming tools.

In afternoon sessions, the students came together to review what they had learned in the morning and apply their new knowledge to projects or games.

The GenCyber students were united by a passion for technology and a shared experience as deaf and hard of hearing teens. Many were using the opportunity to evaluate Gallaudet as their potential school of choice.

“I want to be a robotics engineer,” said Alyssa from South Carolina. “It involves a lot of math. I want to use code to help fix, program, or create things. I’m going to different camps to help me decide where to go.”

The next generation

Alexania, a student from American School for the Deaf, loves the tech field. She’s not sure what her major will end up being, but she knows she wants to help organizations detect security risks.

“I want to become a white hat hacker and help defend systems,” Alexania said. “I learned a lot about programming. It was a good opportunity to learn about computing and cryptography.”

Wes, a student from Washington School for the Deaf, was also visiting multiple schools during the summer. “I came to the GenCyber camp to see if cybersecurity is a fit for my major,” Wes said. “My favorite part was learning how to code and program for security.”

Alyssa’s favorite part was learning about cryptography, while Alexandia enjoyed socializing with the other students. The GenCyber camp gave every student the opportunity to learn, engage with their peers, and leave with exposure to university-level instruction.

“It was thrilling to see the students so engaged and excited to learn during the camp,” says Jared Evans, Information Security Officer. “They showed real curiosity and motivation as they explored cyber basics, the defender’s mindset, encryption, and coding. The camp gave them a better understanding of online risks and what it takes to keep themselves and others safe in the digital world.”

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To learn more about Gallaudet’s offerings for deaf and hard of hearing youth, including summer camps, visit the Youth Programs page.

Gallaudet offers Bachelor’s and Minor degree tracks in Information Technology.