T. Rowe Price Sponsors Loyola's Cyber Science Program
Cornerstone Partnership Fuels Innovation and Inspires Emerging Career Paths
The Loyola Blakefield Cyber Science program is best described as a big idea with humble beginnings. Five years ago, a small group of students led by Director of Technology, Steve Morrill, began to answer a question yet to be explored: What role could high school (or even middle school) students play in the world of cyber science?
Winning prestigious local and national competitions put the program on the map quickly, but student interest grew just as fast. Within a few years, the program has grown to include over 150 students, many of whom have mastered skills normally reserved for advanced college studies. At Loyola, students not only gain experience that can lead to exciting careers, but their knowledge is put to the test in competitions, they earn internships at some of the nation’s most innovative companies, and get to interact with federal and state agencies who are on the front lines of real-world cyber defense strategies.
A cornerstone partnership with T. Rowe Price provides Loyola with the ability to grow its program in ways that nurture the passions and talents of its students, inspiring them to one day fill a critical void in a field that is expanding every day. In addition to programmatic investment, the partnership provides the prime setting for students to gain industry experience from members of a global and distinguished investment management firm. “Having T. Rowe as a Cornerstone Partner provides our students an opportunity to test-drive careers and gain a more direct perspective on the ever-increasing vitality of cyber security’s role in the financial world,” said Morrill. “The partnership is fueling a talent pipeline that has exciting careers at the other end and we could not be more thrilled to be working with T. Rowe on this critical initiative.”
Developing talent, especially at the high school level is a strategic priority shared by Loyola and T. Rowe. With underemployment in the cyber security industry and increased digital globalization, our newest generation of professionals require early exposure to this constantly evolving field. “The nature of the cyber science world demands an intentional approach to building a pipeline that draws forward candidates who not only possess the technical acumen to be successful, but the values and commitment to upholding the laws and ethics that govern our global community,” said T. Rowe Price Chief Information Security Officer, Tom Quinn.
Recognized as the world leader in cyber science education at the middle and high school levels, the program Morrill founded here at Loyola has been shared as the ideal model for the advancement of skills related to the field, as well as creating pathways to employment. Most recently, Morrill has travelled to Australia to share his insights with political, industry and educational leadership as they roll out their version of the program across the continent.
“We provide students with industry-caliber skills required by today’s fastest growing employers, but we do so through the lens of what a Jesuit education is all about,” said Morrill. Some call it STEM, but Jesuit schools have been blending subjects and making connections between disciplines for nearly 500 years. “Our students are applying advanced skills in the classroom and gaining real-world experience, all through the Jesuit education that Loyola provides – one that is strong in liberal arts, but also boldly innovative.”
Read more about this initiative from T. Rowe Price's Press Release.
Learn more about our cyber science program at loyolablakefield.org/cyber.
The Loyola Blakefield Cyber Science program is best described as a big idea with humble beginnings. Five years ago, a small group of students led by Director of Technology, Steve Morrill, began to answer a question yet to be explored: What role could high school (or even middle school) students play in the world of cyber science?
Winning prestigious local and national competitions put the program on the map quickly, but student interest grew just as fast. Within a few years, the program has grown to include over 150 students, many of whom have mastered skills normally reserved for advanced college studies. At Loyola, students not only gain experience that can lead to exciting careers, but their knowledge is put to the test in competitions, they earn internships at some of the nation’s most innovative companies, and get to interact with federal and state agencies who are on the front lines of real-world cyber defense strategies.
A cornerstone partnership with T. Rowe Price provides Loyola with the ability to grow its program in ways that nurture the passions and talents of its students, inspiring them to one day fill a critical void in a field that is expanding every day. In addition to programmatic investment, the partnership provides the prime setting for students to gain industry experience from members of a global and distinguished investment management firm. “Having T. Rowe as a Cornerstone Partner provides our students an opportunity to test-drive careers and gain a more direct perspective on the ever-increasing vitality of cyber security’s role in the financial world,” said Morrill. “The partnership is fueling a talent pipeline that has exciting careers at the other end and we could not be more thrilled to be working with T. Rowe on this critical initiative.”
Developing talent, especially at the high school level is a strategic priority shared by Loyola and T. Rowe. With underemployment in the cyber security industry and increased digital globalization, our newest generation of professionals require early exposure to this constantly evolving field. “The nature of the cyber science world demands an intentional approach to building a pipeline that draws forward candidates who not only possess the technical acumen to be successful, but the values and commitment to upholding the laws and ethics that govern our global community,” said T. Rowe Price Chief Information Security Officer, Tom Quinn.
Recognized as the world leader in cyber science education at the middle and high school levels, the program Morrill founded here at Loyola has been shared as the ideal model for the advancement of skills related to the field, as well as creating pathways to employment. Most recently, Morrill has travelled to Australia to share his insights with political, industry and educational leadership as they roll out their version of the program across the continent.
“We provide students with industry-caliber skills required by today’s fastest growing employers, but we do so through the lens of what a Jesuit education is all about,” said Morrill. Some call it STEM, but Jesuit schools have been blending subjects and making connections between disciplines for nearly 500 years. “Our students are applying advanced skills in the classroom and gaining real-world experience, all through the Jesuit education that Loyola provides – one that is strong in liberal arts, but also boldly innovative.”
Read more about this initiative from T. Rowe Price's Press Release.
Learn more about our cyber science program at loyolablakefield.org/cyber.
