For their hard work in the classroom and their dedication to pursuing a degree in information assurance, Capitol students Frank Brinkofski and Stephanie Schumacher have been nominated by the Department of Defense Information Assurance Scholarship Program (IASP) as recruitment scholars. Both Brinkofski and Schumacher are working toward their Bachelor of Science degrees in information assurance and were among eight IASP applicants from Capitol College. This highly competitive national scholarship yielded 30 new students nationally, with well over 300 applications.
IASP is designed to assist in recruiting and retaining highly qualified personnel in the field of information assurance to meet the Department of Defense’s information technology requirements for national defense and the security of its information infrastructures. The scholarship provides funds for a student’s tuition, plus a yearly stipend, and in return the student is required to work at a DoD facility for a fixed term following graduation.
“I like the fact that [information assurance] is a growing field and that there is a real future in it,” Brinkofski said. “The labs that deal with securing systems and [virtual machines] are the most interesting because they give you hands-on experience.”
After they graduate, Brinkofski and Schumacher will both be employed by the U.S. Navy where they will play vital roles helping to acquire , install, deliver and maintain advanced information technology capabilities to the fleet, regardless of platform, to keep warfighters one step ahead of adversaries.
“I’m really looking forward to working with [Capitol’s] Cyber Battle Lab and learning more penetration testing,” said Schumacher, who holds an associate’s degree in in cybercrime technology from Catawba Valley Community College. “I’m excited to take my education to the next level.”
Because Brinkofski is set to graduate in May 2013, he will perform the “for service” component of the scholarship for at least one year after he graduates. Schumacher’s scholarship could potentially cover two years, requiring her to intern during the summer of 2013 and perform two years of “for service” at the same location after graduating in May 2014.
Capitol College offers a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctorate in information assurance, as well as professional training in counter intelligence and homeland security. Undergraduate students have the opportunity to take many of their classes online, while the master’s and doctoral programs are delivered online, through Capitol College’s online learning platform. Online courses blend synchronous (real-time), professor-led events with asynchronous learning sessions in which students access and study course material at their convenience.