The Lynx Way: September 9
Klosterman awarded ESET Women in Cybersecurity scholarship
A Brandon native is one of four young women to be awarded an ESET Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship. Designed to help the underrepresentation of women in the cybersecurity field, the $5,000 scholarships were granted to four women studying information security.
Annabelle Klosterman, of Brandon, is a first-year student at Dakota State University, and is majoring in cyber operations. With hopes of becoming a leader in the cybersecurity field, Klosterman spends her free time mentoring youth in her community to understand the importance of staying safe online. Additionally, she has competed in the CyberPatriot program, in which her team earned a spot at the national finals competition two years in a row. She has also won numerous awards and honors, including from the National Center for Women & Information Technology and the United States Air Force Auxiliary.
“I aspire to be a leader in the cybersecurity field and want to empower others to have an impact on the safety of our country’s future. With the constant change of technology, it can be challenging to keep up with each new development, but the requirement for cybersecurity won’t go away. My goal is to be in a position that changes the way people view and handle security, for their protection and safety, and the benefit of everyone,” Klosterman said.
The other winners include Anwar Abu-Shayed, Yonkers, N.Y., Maria Bolaños of Fresno, Texas, and Jessica Lam, of San Diego, Calif.
The ESET Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship is one of the many initiatives ESET supports to increase diversity in the workplace and in cybersecurity. ESET also helps host the annual Cyber Boot Camp and supports a number of philanthropic organizations including Girls Inc., Promises2Kids, Feeding San Diego and more.
“After a rigorous selection process from a pool of highly qualified applicants, we are pleased to announce that four outstanding students have won this year’s ESET Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship award,” said Celeste Blodgett, vice president of human resources at ESET. “As threats to cybersecurity continue to grow, the field is in need of talented individuals with a passion for safeguarding our networks from both everyday bad actors and global cyber threats. It’s rewarding to see that more women are becoming interested in cybersecurity, and we are confident that the winners of this year’s award have a promising road in the cybersecurity field ahead of them.”
Etrheim is Iowa State University summer grad
Tyler Etrheim, Garretson, was among 820 Iowa State University summer graduates. Etrheim was awarded a Master of Engineering and Mechanical Engineering degrees.
