September/October 2018 Howard University FROM PAGE 6


product areas to get a glimpse of what their futures could hold.”


Tech Exchange and Howard


West mark three collaborations between the two institutions. The first, Google in Residence (GIR), is a program that embeds Google engineers as faculty at Howard and other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and has been going strong for more than four years. Howard West was a natural and logical next step, bridging the geographical, academic


and cultural divide


between declaring a major in Computer Science, graduating and landing a job in tech. The expansion of the program further support Google’s mission to build a diverse company that reflects the people who use its products.


The 29 Howard University students participating in the Tech


Exchange Program include: Biswash Adhikari; Peace Aku;


Jeff Beauplan; Cicely Beckford; Kiara Bowen; Michelle


Brown;


Shumba Brown; Anita Calmday; Daniel Erhabor; Ruel Gordon; Skylar Grammas; Aayush Gupta; Matthew King; Zaykha Kyaw San; LeAnn Lewis; Henchhing Limbu; Sean Mills; Maya Nichols; Kaleshwar Singh; Bijesh Subedi; Kishor Subedi; Mahia Tasneem; Shaunelle Thomas; Victoria Velazquez; Candace Williams; Kode Williams; Anurag Yadav; Afeeni Phillips; and Taylor Roper.


The Howard University


professors that will teach the courses alongside Google staff are Legand Burge, Ph.D.; Olumide Malomo, Ph.D.; and Ebel Nwafor, Ph.D.


Kirklin Hall FROM PAGE 2


ago, working his way up to Major General—one of the military’s highest posts.


“Kirklin was an outstanding student and cadet. It was easy for us to train him because he had some training at home,” recalled Kirklin’s former and


mentor First Sergeant


instructor Al


Hines during the ceremony. “He was obedient, dedicated and disciplined, so our job was that much easier with him. I consider it an esteemed and distinct pleasure to have had Kirklin as a student.”


MVSU President Dr. Jerryl Briggs said that Kirklin is the epitome of the greatness that a Valley graduate can achieve.


“The greatness of our Hampton University FROM PAGE 1


This scholarship is also intended for students who want to transfer from another institution, as well as current Hampton University students.


The grant renewal states, “This program will allow Hampton University to continue


to produce


skilled cybersecurity and address the


students (particularly underrepresented


highly workers


lack of from


communities)


that are pursuing graduate degrees.


scholarship program is to support the development cybersecurity


The goal of the of


both undergraduate and graduate levels


at the


professionals, Information


Assurance and Cyber Security Center at Hampton University (IAC@HU).” The IAC@HU is designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE/CDE) by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and National Security Agency (NSA) through 2021.


The CyberCorps:


Scholarships for Service (SFS) program


supports Computer


Science (CSC), Computer Information Systems (CIS), and Cyber Security – Computer Science


(CYS) undergraduate


students for two years (starting their junior year) as well as the two-year MS degree in IA. “This scholarship covers full-tuition, textbooks and travel expenses for professional


development.


Each SFS scholar will also receive a stipend of $22,500 per year for undergrad and $34,000


per year for graduate students,” said Boonthum-Denecke. In return, students make a commitment to work for the federal government for a specific amount of years (one-for-one year commitment)


following the


completion of their respective degree programs. As a part of CyberCorps: SFS program, each scholar must be enrolled full-time, maintain the GPA requirement, provide community outreach, and conduct, as well as present, cybersecurity related research.


As the Computer Science


department expands their recruitment efforts to junior and community colleges, the SFS scholarship can be offered to qualified and committed students.


“This scholarship will


allow a student attending community college to matriculate to Hampton University, Department of Computer Science, and receive full-funding to complete


their undergraduate and


graduate degrees in Cyber Security,” said Dr. Jean Muhammad, Chair of the Hampton University Department of Computer Science and who served as Co-Principal Investigator for this grant. “Dr. Danny Barnes, Cyber Security professor, serves as the recruitment liaison between Hampton University, the Department of Computer Science and Hampton Roads Community are


future


excited about this outstanding collaboration


Colleges. We with


our


local community colleges,” said Muhammad.


The application deadline for this scholarship is June 1. For more information about the program and how to apply, go to http://iac.science. hamptonu.edu/page/CyberCorps- Scholarships-for-Service.


University is our students—both current and former. I’m overjoyed by this opportunity to honor one of Valley’s own,” said Briggs. “When our students see the name of this hall, hopefully they’ll want to know why, and we’ll be able to share and show them all the great things that Major General Kirklin has accomplished in his life.”


Briggs noted his ties to Kirklin go beyond their love for MVSU.


“For me, referring to him as


Major General is phenomenal, but also referring to him as Brother Kirklin is even


since we’re both members of the illustrious Omega Psi Phi, Fraternity, Inc.,” he said.


“This is assurance that this


University is doing the right thing in providing the opportunities for our students to be successful. It is important that when they think about where they want to go, they see a representative as a graduate that’s second to none because this University is second to none,” Briggs added.


A native of Lexington, Miss.,


Kirklin said that it was MVSU that chose him as a student more than 30 years ago.


“I walked building many times


through this really


not


knowing what the future held,” he said. “No words can express my gratitude for what’s happening


more special


here today and what this dedication means to me, but I think what matters most is what it means to the people who invested in me.”


For the young students and


future leaders to see someone with a background similar to theirs have a moment like this and to know that MVSU can lay the foundation for them to follow at some point.


Kirklin also used the


opportunity to encourage MVSU ROTC students in attendance.


no matter what you’re doing, the end results


“Performance is important— are what really


matter,” he said. “You have to be prepared, dedicated and persistent in what you do, and the last thing I’ve learned as a leader is that you really have to care for people.”


Kirklin said he never imagined that he would become a major general, a ranking that less than one percent of military officers achieve.


“I’m living proof that anything is possible for those of you following me. Don’t give up and remain dedicated to what you’re doing,” he said.


He also used the opportunity to thank those who have supported him over the years.


Many people who have


been successful in life have had a really good cheer team behind them. They’re the people who are important in the end when all of this is said and done,” he said.


One of the things I’ve learned


lately is that when the bright lights are no longer shining on you and the spot light is off, they will come be your light. So, I want to thank the hundreds of people who have helped me on this journey.”


Kirklin said he’s humbled by


the legacy that Kirklin Hall will have for generations to come.


“I want to thank Mississippi


Valley State University for choosing me and giving me a chance. I know that this University will continue to change lives for young men and women years after I’m gone,” he said.


The HBCU Advocate 11


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