2025 ASMDA U.S. Cyber Academy Scholarship Information

The Air, Space, and Missile Defense Association (ASMDA) is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to support SMDC, JFCC IMD, PEO-M&S, AMCOM, CCDC AvMC, MSIC, NASA Marshall, CFT APNT & MDA in the attainment of their goals and missions and to promote STEM activities with our youth.

When: Sunday, 1 June, 2025 - Friday, 6 June, 2025

Where: U.S. Cyber Academy at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville, Alabama. See U.S. Cyber Academy U.S. Space & Rocket Center for more information.

Who: Any child or grandchild, age 12-14 years old, of a parent or guardian associated with ASMDA through personal membership, membership of an employer, or ASMDA supported government organizations. ASMDA supported
government organizations include SMDC, JFCC IMD, PEO-M&S, AMCOM,
CCDC AvMC, MSIC, NASA Marshall, CFTs APNT, AMD & MDA. Military,
government civilian, including matrix personnel, and contractors working for
corporate members of ASMDA can apply. Visit our webpage at www.ASMDA.org
and click on Corporate Members. Military and government personnel must apply for
free membership to ASMDA to be eligible. Matrix or contractors working for an
ASMDA supported government organization whose employer is not a member of
ASMDA must apply for the $10 Individual Membership to be eligible.

Selection Criteria: American citizenship, handwritten essay, school grades, and an interest in cyber.

Scholarship includes:

• One week at the U.S. Cyber Academy at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL (1 June - 6 June)
• Daily Class T-shirt $25
• Wrist Band Stipend

*Note: 

Travel expenses will be provided for students living outside the Huntsville, AL commuting area.

If students from Alaska or the Kwajalein Atoll are selected for the scholarship, travel will also be paid for one chaperone to travel with the child, or children, if multiple students are selected from those locations.  A maximum of one chaperone’s travel will be funded from each location.  A hotel room and rental car will be provided for the chaperone in Huntsville, AL during the week of the Cyber Academy.

ASMDA opens 2025 U.S. Cyber Academy Scholarship Application

February 28, 2025 Application Deadline!

ASMDA is offering scholarships for 16 selected children to attend a one-week Cyber Academy Camp this fall break at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. These scholarships are open to any child, 12-14 years old, of a parent or guardian associated with ASMDA, either through personal membership or employer, corporate or government, membership. The scholarship includes one week at the Cyber Academy, from Sunday, 01 June 2025, and pick them up on Friday, 06 June 2025., the t-shirt of the day, and a $25 stipend while at camp. Applications can be found at the ASMDA website. Please note that the ASMDA Cyber Academy scholarship is different from the ASMDA Space Camp scholarship. "We are very excited about the opportunity we are offering our organization members and affiliates," said Rodney Robertson, Director, Center for Corporate Engagement at Auburn University Research and Innovation Campus. "The ability to inspire and grow the future cyber workforce in Huntsville and beyond is extremely exciting and rewarding." The timeline for receiving applications and awarding this fall's ASMDA scholarships is very tight, and we therefore cannot accept applications after the deadline of Friday, February 28, 2025. Our goal is to notify the winners by April 1, 2025. Immediately following selection and acceptance, the Cyber Academy will send recipients an academy application packet. Winners are required to return the completed application packet to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. The Air, Space, and Missile Defense Association (ASMDA) is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to support SMDC, JFCC IMD, PEO-M&S, AMCOM, CCDC AvMC, MSIC, NASA Marshall, CFTs APNT, AMD & MDA in the attainment of their goals and missions and to provide STEM opportunities for their children.

For more information about the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's U.S. Cyber Academy, visit their website at www.rocketcenter.com. First, click on Space Camp; second, under Space Camp, click on U.S. Cyber Academy. The extensive information provided on the website should answer most questions concerning the program.

If currently married, please fill out both. If single or divorced, fill out only one. If legal guardian, fill out as Parent One.

Mailing Address (location which to mail Space Camp application if selected)

Please attach the following items via the upload buttons below:

1) Copy of the child's most recent school report card. If home schooled, include a letter of courses taken and grades achieved.

2)A short (3-5 paragraphs, 500 words) hand-written essay prepared and written solely by the child applying for the Space Camp Scholarship on one of the following topics:

Why is the recent advancement of Artificial Intelligence significant?

Pick a recent data breach or hack that has been in the news; write about what threat actor conducted the attack, how they accomplished the attack, and what could have possibly been done to prevent the successful attack.

Why is it important for a company or individual to have backup and recovery for important data?

What does cybersecurity mean to you, and what are the biggest threats to the field?

Do you think your phone/tablet/computer is able to be compromised? Why or why not?

How important do you think keeping software up to date is? Give examples and reasons why.

Why is cybersecurity important for (pick one) national security, health care, banking, or critical infrastructure?

 

 

Questions concerning scholarships can be directed to Sydney Watson at skate@cyberhuntsville.org or 256- 665-1280. All applications must be received no later than 1700 hours on Friday, February 28, 2025. The ASMDA Scholarship Committee plans to send scholarship notifications by April 1, 2025.

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I certify that the information on this application is correct, the report card is an accurate copy of my student’s performance for the current school year, and the attached essay is the sole work of my student. I acknowledge my willingness to have my student attend the U.S. Cyber Academy, and that I must deliver the student to the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL on Sunday, 01 June 2025, and pick them up on Friday, 06 June 2025. I additionally acknowledge that I must cover all travel-related expenses, unless my student lives outside of the Huntsville, AL commuting area. Housing and food expenses while my student participates in Cyber Academy are included in the scholarship.