ESET North America Recognizes Talent in Cybersecurity with Tenth Annual Scholarship Awards
SAN DIEGO, CA – ESET North America, a global leader in digital security, has announced the recipients of its tenth annual Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship program. This landmark tenth year marks a significant milestone in ESET’s ongoing commitment to fostering diversity and talent within the rapidly evolving cybersecurity industry.
Ten exceptional students from across the United States and Canada have been selected to receive scholarships based on their distinguished academic records, demonstrated passion for cybersecurity, and clear commitment to driving positive change within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The awards recognize not only academic achievement but also the potential of these emerging leaders to contribute significantly to a field critical for global security.
Expanded Recognition Tiers Highlight Growing Talent
This year’s program introduced an expanded Cybersecurity Trailblazer Award Tier to provide enhanced recognition and financial support to applicants demonstrating exceptional promise and achievement. The impact of this expansion is particularly visible in the U.S., where three recipients were named Trailblazers, each receiving a substantial $10,000 scholarship to support their educational pursuits.
The U.S. Trailblazer recipients for the tenth annual scholarship are: Alexis Eskenazi, Crystal Yang, and Ismat Jarin. Their selection underscores their outstanding capabilities and potential to become future leaders in cybersecurity. This significant investment aims to alleviate financial barriers, allowing these students to focus on their studies and research.
In Canada, two recipients were honored with the Cybersecurity Trailblazer Award, each receiving a $5,000 scholarship. These deserving students are Azka Siddiqui and Constance Prevot. Their recognition highlights the strong pool of talent emerging from Canadian educational institutions and their readiness to tackle complex cybersecurity challenges.
Further demonstrating the program’s evolution and commitment to nurturing talent at various stages, a new Future Leader Award tier was introduced specifically for Canadian students. This tier recognizes promising individuals earlier in their academic journeys, providing encouragement and support. Five Canadian students were awarded $1,000 scholarships under this new tier:
Yushika Jhundoo
Meadow Agbor
Tina Ismail
Vrinda Joshi
Yashvi Shah
This tiered approach allows ESET North America to support a broader range of students and encourage continued academic and professional development in cybersecurity.
Recognizing Excellence and Drive for Change
The selection process for the scholarships is rigorous, focusing on identifying students who not only possess technical acumen but also a strong desire to make a difference. Celeste Blodgett, Vice President of Human Resources at ESET North America, commented on the caliber of this year’s winners.
“Each of these ten students stood out among a highly competitive pool of applicants,” Blodgett stated. “What distinguished them was not only their technical excellence – their impressive academic performance and understanding of complex cybersecurity concepts – but also their palpable drive to create meaningful change. They are passionate about using their skills to protect individuals, organizations, and society from cyber threats, and many are actively involved in initiatives promoting diversity and inclusion within STEM.”
Blodgett added, “Supporting these bright minds is not just an investment in their individual futures, but an investment in the future of cybersecurity itself. A diverse workforce is essential for developing innovative solutions to increasingly sophisticated threats.”
Addressing the Gender Gap in Cybersecurity
The cybersecurity industry continues to face a significant talent shortage, a challenge compounded by a persistent gender gap. Women remain underrepresented in cybersecurity roles globally. Programs like ESET’s Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship play a vital role in addressing this disparity by providing financial assistance, recognition, and encouragement to female students pursuing careers in the field.
By supporting these students, ESET aims to help build a more inclusive and representative cybersecurity workforce. Increasing the number of women in cybersecurity is not only a matter of equity but is also crucial for enhancing the industry’s effectiveness. Diverse teams bring varied perspectives and approaches to problem-solving, which is invaluable in anticipating and mitigating complex cyber threats.
A Decade of Support and Future Impact
Celebrating its tenth anniversary, the ESET Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship program has consistently supported aspiring female cybersecurity professionals. Over the past decade, the initiative has provided crucial funding and recognition to numerous students, helping them achieve their educational goals and launch successful careers in a critical industry.
The scholarships enable recipients to focus on their studies, participate in research opportunities, and engage in extracurricular activities that further their development. For many, this financial support can be the deciding factor in pursuing advanced degrees or specialized training necessary to excel in competitive cybersecurity roles.
The recipients of the 2024 scholarships represent a diverse group of talented individuals poised to make significant contributions. As they complete their education and enter the workforce, they will join a growing network of ESET scholarship alumni who are already making their mark in various sectors of the cybersecurity landscape, from threat intelligence and incident response to security architecture and policy.
ESET North America’s continued investment in programs like this underscores its commitment to corporate social responsibility and its belief in the importance of nurturing the next generation of cybersecurity experts. By empowering these ten students, ESET is helping to build a stronger, more diverse, and better-equipped cybersecurity workforce for the future.
