Request More Info Apply to IUP

About PC4A | In the News | Student Resources | Partner Pages | Project Documents | Grant Progress | Faculty Development | DoD/DIB Outreach

Below are the activities of the Lead Organization (LO), IUP, and all our community college partners. Please check back regularly for new events and activities that might interest you or someone you know!

Upcoming Activities
Date Event Partner Description
1/10/24 Quakertown Dual Enrollment Fair BUCKS Quakertown Community High School will host the annual Dual Enrollment, AP and Electives fair.  Bucks staff will attend the event and distribute PC4A marketing materials to interested students.
1/26/24 SkillsaUSA District 2 Competition MCCC MCCC will host the upcoming SkillsUSA competition for students from Montgomery County Career and Technical Centers.  PC4A will be represented by Larry Byron who will promote bootcamps and review workshops.
3/22/24 2nd Annual Cybersecurity Community Event PHCC A public event will be offered to share important cybersecurity information with high school students and senior citizens, with a different focus for each separate group.  Transportation will be provided to encourage participation.
4/5/24 POGIL Development Workshop LO A faculty development workshop on using the POGIL method of instruction will be held at NCC for East PA partners. See the faculty development page for details.
4/11/24 Technology Open House NCC Students from local area tech schools will be brought to campus for a full day of panel discussion, workshops, and networking with industry leaders.  120-200 students expected
4/11/24 POGIL Development Workshop LO A faculty development workshop on using the POGIL method of instruction will be held at NCC for East PA partners. See the faculty development page for details.
4/12/24 3CS Regional Conference NCC NCC will host the first regional conference of the National Cyberwatch Center’s Cybersecurity and Careers Symposia.  Plans are being developed to include a poster presentation for students, a cyber competition, and an informational session.

Year 2 Quarter 1 (September–December 2023)
Date Event Partner Description
9/14/2023 Science Center Grand Reopening MCCC A celebration of the re-opening of the MCCC Science Center was recently held, and MCCC and PC4A staff and faculty shared information on current programs, research, and the PC4A Project.
9/23/2023 Veterans Community Outreach Event NCC The Outreach Coordinator participated in an inclusive community event tailored to veterans and military-affiliated students at NCC.  Marketing materials were provided to interested participants.
9/27/2023 Merck Day at Montco MCCC Merck Day at Montco was a combination career fair, information session, and scientific symposium featuring Merck & Co. As part of this event, students and community members had the opportunity to meet and network with representatives from Merck.
9/29/2023 CompTIA Network+ Workshop PHCC A certification prep workshop was offered to students on September 29, 2023, to assist them with preparing for the CompTIA Security+ certification exam.  13 students attended the workshop, and were provided with an exam voucher.
10/2023 Fall Open House MCCC MCCC hosted three Open Houses for prospective students in October 2023. PC4A representatives shared information on Computer and Information Science programs, industry certifications, and benefits provided through the PC4A Project.  PC4A materials and flyers were distributed to all interested students.
10/26/2023 Bsides Flood City Cybersecurity Event LO/PHCC PHCC hosted the first annual BSides Cybersecurity Event, which was sponsored by the LO.  A booth with PC4A marketing materials including flyers, brochures, and Y1 accomplishments was displayed, and students and employers attended the event to hear presentations from cybersecurity experts.  PHCC reported that 39 students attended the event, and PHCC expects to host the event again in 2024.
10/28/2023 Open House NCC The Outreach Coordinator participated in an open house hosted at NCC and provided information on current grant incentives, available programs, and STEM-related career pathways.
10/30/2023 Portage Area High School PHCC The PHCC intern presented cybersecurity program information and an overview of the PC4A Project to students at Portage Area High School.
10/31/2023 16th Annual Cybersecurity Day LO IUP hosted the 16th Annual Cybersecurity Day at IUP, a day-long event consisting of presentations by cybersecurity experts from academic, government, and private institutions.  Faculty and students from BC3, MCCC, PHCC and WCCC attended the event. Visit the CS Day web page for details.
10/2023 Veterans Lunch and Learn MCCC Project staff will host an informative session for students using the Veterans Services Office. Focus of the event will be the career earning potential and benefits offered through the PC4A Project.
11/1/2023 Penn State Abington Visit MCCC The STEM Division hosted representatives from Penn State Abington who met with faculty and students, and shared information on their programs and scholarship opportunities.  PC4A marketing materials were available for all participants.
11/2/2023 Alvernia University Visit MCCC The STEM Division hosted representatives from Alvernia University who met with faculty and students, and shared information on their programs and scholarship opportunities.  PC4A marketing materials were available for all participants.
11/9/2023 High School Counselor Breakfast MCCC Two breakfasts for dual enrollment partners and school counselors were hosted by MCCC on November 9 and 13, 2023.  STEM administrators attended the breakfast, and shared information on targeted programs and the PC4A Project. 
11/10/23 CompTIA Network+ Workshop PHCC A certification prep workshop was offered to students on November 10, 2023 to assist them with preparing for the CompTIA Network+ certification exam.  11 students attended the workshop, and were provided with an exam voucher.
11/16/23 NAVSUP Visit to IUP LO Representatives from the Naval Supply Systems Command Business Systems Center visited IUP’s main campus to meet with students and learn about the IUP Institute for Cybersecurity and the PC4A project
11/16/23 Forest Hills HS Presentation PHCC The PHCC intern presented cybersecurity program information and an overview of the PC4A Project to students at Forest Hills High School.
11/2023 CCNA Review Workshop MCCC A workshop for CCNA certification preparation will be offered.  Participants who complete the workshop will receive an exam voucher.
12/4/2023 Windber Area HS Presentation PHCC The PHCC intern presented cybersecurity program information and an overview of the PC4A Project to students at Windber Area High School
12/8/23 BSides Philly Event NCC Eight students from NCC attended the BSides Cybersecurity Event held in Philadelphia, PA. Students were able to learn about changes in the industry and compete in a competition in which they placed second. 
12/12/23 CompTIA Network+ Bootcamp BC3 BC3 offered a CompTIA Network+ Cert Prep bootcamp to students who scored well on the Network II final exam.  Four students participated in the workshop and were awarded exam vouchers.
12/18/23 CompTIA A+ Workshop MCCC MCCC hosted their first CompTIA A+ Cert Prep workshop which was attended by 10 students.  Students who completed the bootcamp were awarded exam vouchers.
12/2023 CompTIA A+ Bootcamp WCCC In December 2023, WCCC offered their first certification prep bootcamp.  12 students participated and are currently working to earn CompTIA A+ exam vouchers. 

Previous Activities

Quarter Four (July 2023–August 2023)
Date Event Partner Description
8/24/2023 NCAE NE Regional Meeting and Townhall LO/PHCC The theme of the event was “Planting the Seeds: Collaborating and Sustaining the Next Generation of Cybersecurity Professionals” which was attended by the project PI and PHCC Co-PI.
8/17/2023 Dual Enrollment Orientation MCCC Over 250 prospective students attended an event to provide information on the benefits of dual enrollment.
8/11/2023 Tobyhanna Army Depot Visit NCC Multiple staff members attended a tour of the Tobyhanna Army Depot and discussed implementation of the internship program.
8/8/2023 PC4A Annual Conference LO PC4A Partners met in person for the first time to discuss progress, challenges, and collaboration opportunities.  
8/3/2023 Computer Technology Advisory Meeting PHCC The advisory board met and discussed the PHCC assessment process, the PC4A project, and new courses. 
7/23/2023 CompTIA Network+ Bootcamp BUCKS A three-day bootcamp was provided, and participants received exam vouchers.  Five students participated in the bootcamp.
7/23/2023 CompTIA A+ Bootcamp BUCKS A three-day bootcamp was held, and participants received exam vouchers.  Ten students participated in the bootcamp.
7/11/2023 Coding Camp WCCC A three-day coding camp was offered to MS and HS students using Arduino Uni boards. Eight students participated in the camp.

Quarter Three (April 2023–June 2023)
Date Event Partner Description
6/27/2023 Cisco Bootcamp MCCC A bootcamp for CTA high school students began in June 2023 and concluded in August 2023.  11 Students completed the course and earned an exam voucher.
6/21/2023 Cybersecurity Student Bootcamp PHCC Students participated in a two-day workshop focused on Cyber Security networking, Linux and ethical hacking. Kali Linux and several tools were used to demonstrate concepts in a hands-on environment.  11 high school students participated from local area high schools.
5/31/2023 Showcase for Commerce PHCC Co-PIs attended the 32nd Annual Showcase for Commerce and made connections with various DoD contractors, private business, and educational institutions. 
5/16/2023 Comp Sci Advisory Board Meeting BUCKS The Advisory Board invited STEM faculty and local employers to provide feedback on the level of employment preparedness and curriculum for two majors: 2136 – Computer Networking Technology Degree and 2164 – Information Technologies Studies Degree. Employers present represented Visual Software, Inc., The eNeighborhood Project, and Mtech AI Solutions.
5/13/2023 CCNA Review Workshop MCCC A CCNA test prep workshop was held to prepare students for the certification exam.  11 students participated, six students attempted the exam, and five students earned their certification thus far.  
5/11/2023 Bucks Faculty Development Workshop LO STEM faculty from Bucks participated in a professional development workshop featuring presentations on the PC4A Project, network defense, and the NCAE Cyber Sandbox.  The workshop was held virtually with six participants.
5/10/2023 BC3 Faculty Development Workshop LO STEM faculty from BC3 participated in a professional development workshop featuring presentations on the PC4A Project, network defense, and the NCAE Cyber Sandbox.  The workshop was held virtually with four participants. 
5/8/2023 CompTIA Security+ Workshop BC3 Three students participated in the Security+ bootcamp to prepare for their certification exam.  At the conclusion of the workshop, participants were awarded additional study materials and an exam voucher.  Three students have taken and passed their certification exam.
4/27/2023 SRU Cybersecurity Event BC3 One instructor and six students attended the SRU Cybersecurity Event to learn about careers in cybersecurity presented by cybersecurity experts and view live software and application demonstrations to address threats.
4/21/2023 CompTIA Linux+ Workshop PHCC 10 students participated in a Linux+ bootcamp to prepare for their certification exam.  At the conclusion of the workshop, participants were awarded additional study materials and an exam voucher.
4/21/2023 CTE Dual Enrollment Day MCCC Computer Science students from local CTE visited the MCCC campus and were given a behind the scenes look at the MCCC IT department, participated in a cybersecurity escape room, and were given a presentation on MCCC Computer Science programs. 
4/15/2023 PHCC Faculty Development Workshop LO Faculty from PHCC participated in a professional development workshop featuring presentations on Cloud Security, Cryptography, and the NCAE Cyber Games. The workshop was held virtually with seven participants. 
4/11/2023 NAVSUP Visit to IUP LO IUP hosted representatives from NAVSUP and provided them with information on the Institute for Cybersecurity, computer science programs available, and the PC4A project.  
4/1/2023 WCCC Faculty Workshop IUP The LO, IUP, offered a faculty professional development workshop for WCCC faculty with lessons on cloud security, cryptography, and blockchain technology. Four faculty participated in the event, and all collected feedback was excellent. View the event website for more information.
4/15/2023 PHCC Faculty Workshop IUP The LO, IUP, offered a faculty professional development workshop for PHCC faculty with lessons on cloud security, cryptography, and the NCAE Cyberg Games Sandbox. Seven faculty participate in the event, and all collected feedback was excellent. View the event website for more information.

Quarter Two (January 2023–March 2023)
Date Event Partner Description
1/30/2023 PI Visit at Homer-Center HS IUP Dr. Waleed Farag visited with students to discuss cybersecurity career options. See the news release for more information.
2/1/2023 Cybersecurity Mentor Visit BC3 The BC3 Cybersecurity Mentor visited with students to discuss the importance of Linux, requirements for federal positions, and DoD/DIB contractors that are currently hiring.
2/23/2023 DoD STEM Exchange IUP The PI presented a talk at the inaugural STEM Exchange on PC4A progress. See the news release for more information.
3/3/2023 EPC Science Olympiad NCC NCC hosted the fifth annual Science Olympiad which consisted of 10 STEM competitions. 165 students from 11 high schools across multiple counties participated in the event. Visit the Science Olympiad website for more information.
3/8/2023 BotsIQ Combat Robotics Competition WCCC WCCC hosted the semi-finals combat robotics competition. Visit the competition website for more information.
3/25/2023 Community Cybersecurity Event PHCC A public cybersecurity event was held at the PHCC Richland campus to raise cybersecurity awareness in the community. Visit the event website for additional details.
3/29/2023 RMU Faculty Presentation WCCC Dr. Karen Paullet, professor of computer and information systems at Robert Morris University, visited with computer science students to discuss transfer opportunities and programs available.  

Quarter One (September 2022–December 2022)
Date Event Partner Description
10/18/2022 15th Annual Cybersecurity Day IUP For the fifteenth year in a row, IUP offered a day-long event featuring presentations from renowned cybersecurity experts. This event was held at the IUP main campus with 150–200 participants. Students and faculty from WCCC also attended this event.
10/7/2022 Bethlehem and Monroe High School Counselors Breakfast NCC The college Admission Departments at the Bethlehem and Monroe campuses hosted a High School Counselor Breakfast session to provide updates on academic programs. A total of 46 counselors were in attendance. The NCC grant Co-PI provided information on the PC4A project, STEM programs, and paid internship benefits. 
12/2/2022 CompTIA Network+ Bootcamp BC3 Five students who completed both networking courses in the Networking and Cybersecurity degree at a minimum of 80 percent were invited to attend the winter offering of the bootcamp. Three students completed the bootcamp and were awarded vouchers for the CompTIA Network+ Certification.
12/2/2022 CompTIA Network+ Bootcamp PHCC A workshop to help prepare students for the CompTIA Network+ exam was held and presented by Leisa Zuccolotto. Three students participated in the workshop. Participants will receive access to the Examcram Network+ eBook, as well as an exam voucher.
12/7/2022 River Valley Roundtable w/ PA Labor and Industry Secretary IUP The PI was invited to participate in a round table discussion hosted by River Valley STEAM Academy with PA L&I Secretary Jennifer Berrier. The focus of this event was to discuss the shortage of skilled workers. Please see the news release for more information.
12/22/2022 CodeBreakers MCCC A Java coding bootcamp refresher for MCCC computer science students was held to prepare them for upper-level coding classes. 45 students participated in this event.