HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Hutchinson Community College is proud to join fellow Kansas community colleges and the Kansas Air National Guard (KSANG) in a new collaborative effort aimed at strengthening the state and nation’s cybersecurity workforce.
Recently highlighted by U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, the partnership creates new opportunities for community college students across Kansas to engage directly in training that supports industries throughout Kansas and the nation.
“The safety of our communities is inextricably linked to the security of our digital networks,” said Dr. Tricia Paramore, president of Hutchinson Community College. “Cybersecurity threats impact every industry — from our local hospitals and small businesses to our schools and public agencies. This partnership expands access, strengthens learning opportunities, and demonstrates the power of collaboration in protecting our communities.”
The initiative also reinforces the vital role Kansas community colleges play in workforce development and national security.
“This isn’t just a curriculum enhancement — it’s a direct pipeline to the front lines of digital defense,” said Jesse Newberry, associate professor of Information Technology at Hutchinson Community College. “Our students are learning to defend the same types of systems that support our national infrastructure. Through this partnership, they gain exposure to high-level cybersecurity challenges and are even better positioned to step into critical, high-impact roles immediately after graduation.”
While the initiative represents a powerful statewide collaboration, Hutchinson Community College is uniquely positioned to contribute through its established and comprehensive Cybersecurity program. HutchCC offers an Associate of Science degree in Cybersecurity that prepares students through hands-on instruction in programming and secure coding. Students train using industry-relevant tools and scenarios that mirror the real-world challenges facing public and private institutions every day.
For more information on Hutchinson Community College and its cybersecurity offerings, visit the college website at www.hutchcc.edu/cybersecurity.
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