The Air Force Association (AFA) today announced that CyberPatriot, AFA’s premier STEM education initiative, has reached 1,000 registered teams for the CyberPatriot IX National Youth Cyber Defense Competition in record-breaking time.
Registration is open until October 5th. Registration launched in April for prospective coaches and mentors to sign up teams for the upcoming competition to begin in October. To date, teams from 46 states and 6 countries are already represented in the competition field. Last year, CyberPatriot VIII broke all previous registration records after more than 3,300 teams signed up to compete from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the US Virgin Islands, Canada, and DoD Dependent Schools in Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.
"These educators, coaches, and students continue to surprise us with their enthusiasm and commitment to STEM education, specifically in the field of cyber – and that excitement is evident, based on our registered teams," said Bernie Skoch, AFA’s CyberPatriot National Commissioner. "The need for cyber defenders is real, both in the present and especially for our future. We are pleased to be making a positive impact through these competitors."
CyberPatriot, created by theAFA, aims to inspire high school and middle school students to pursue careers in cyber security and other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines critical to our nation’s future.
CyberPatriot’s unique structure provides students hands-on learning about technology, emphasizing teamwork and leadership, and exercising critical-thinking skills. The Air Force Association also provides its Elementary School Cyber Education Initiative and annual AFA Cyber Camps through its CyberPatriot program.
