Two iSchool students earn U.S. Bank cybersecurity scholarships

Two students at the University of Washington Information School are among four recipients of U.S. Bank Cybersecurity Scholarships.

The recipients include iSchool students Ryan Keller, a junior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Informatics, and Yu Peter Wang, pursuing a master’s degree in information management.

“The UW Information School is thankful for the generous support of U.S. Bank,” said Carole Palmer, the school’s interim dean. “Gifts such as these allow our students to have the best possible educational experience. Ryan and Peter exemplify the future information professionals we educate at the Information School. These scholarships will assure they are fully prepared to excel in information security, one of the most critical areas for the digital age.”

Senior leaders from U.S. Bank, the University of Washington, Whatcom Community College and the state of Washington presented the $2,500 scholarships to the students at an event at U.S. Bank in Seattle on Thursday, Oct. 12. The additional recipients are Whatcom Community College students Morgan Guthrie and Ian Ferrer.

“At U.S. Bank, we seek to earn the trust of our customers every day and it starts with ensuring their information is safe and secure,” said Jenny Menna, U.S. Bank Senior Vice President, Security Intelligence, Engagement and Awareness. “Cybersecurity is at the heart of keeping our customers, employees and communities protected from attacks. In order to maintain that safety, we need smart, well-trained cybersecurity experts to lead the way. That is why we are excited to partner with the University of Washington and Whatcom Community College to empower our next generation of cybersecurity students.”

Keller, who is concentrating his studies on information assurance and cybersecurity, is active in the University of Washington Student Technology Committee as a software engineer. Wang, who is specializing in information security within his master’s program, is president of the UW student chapter of ISACA, an international organization focused on information technology governance.

“We greatly appreciate U.S. Bank’s investment in the cybersecurity workforce of the future,” said Agnes Kirk, chief information security officer for the state of Washington. “There’s a tremendous shortage of cyber professionals in the workforce. We need many more students like Ryan, Peter, Morgan and Ian entering our profession.”