24 High Schools Recognized for Success
in Guiding Students to College
Principals, counselors and staff from 24 high schools across
West Virginia were recently recognized for their schools’ efforts
to make students aware of higher education opportunities after
graduation. The inaugural Champion of College Access and
Success recognition awards were presented by the West Virginia
Higher Education Policy Commission (WVHEPC) to select
schools that have gone the extra mile to help students and their
families plan for college.
interim chancellor of the WVHEPC. “We’ve all got to work
harder to bridge the education gap to ensure the state’s workforce
remains competitive.”
For high schools to be considered a Champion of College
Access and Success, they must participate in three college-
planning milestone events during the school year: College
Application and Exploration Week, the FAFSA Completion
Campaign and the College Decision Day event. Each of these
milestones has specific components to help students in West
Virginia make the transition to college. WVHEPC provides
financial aid and college application information, training and
support to high schools, as well as event planning assistance.
Marshall University Cyber Defense Team
Ranked Sixth in the Nation
Marshall University’s Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition
Team was ranked sixth in the nation in the recent National
Cyber League (NCL) Power Rankings. This ranking was
based on the performance of the team in the spring 2019 team
competition.
“We’re proud to say that these champion schools put the
success of their students first, and their efforts to prepare them
for a certificate or degree after they graduate will play a key part
in helping West Virginia reach its 60 percent postsecondary
education attainment goal,” says Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker,
Marshall University’s Collegiate
Cyber Defense Competition Team.
Sarah,
We love you for the little girl that you once were,
for the amazing woman you are today and for
the precious daughter you will always be.
Congratulations on being chosen for the
Young Guns Class of 2020!
All our love,
Dad & Mom
70
WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE
The team is composed of students in Marshall’s game develop
ment, digital forensics and information assurance, computer
and information technology, computer science and mathematics
programs. They all participate in Marshall’s Collegiate Cyber
Defense Club (CCDC).
“National Cyber League is a virtual training ground that
helps our students prepare and test themselves against cyber-
security and digital forensics challenges they will likely face in
the workforce,” says Josh Brunty, associate professor of digital
forensics and information assurance, NCL coach and CCDC
advisor. “The competition consists of a series of challenges that
allows students to demonstrate their ability to identify hackers
from forensic data, break passwords, recover from ransomware
attacks and more. It’s a fun, hands-on, experiential learning
opportunity that we could never replicate in the classroom.”
The EdVenture Group, Inc. Receives Grant
for Family Engagement Center
The EdVenture Group, Inc. has been awarded a $4.8 million
grant by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Innova-
tion and Improvement to implement a statewide family engage-
ment center initiative in West Virginia schools. The West Virginia
Family Engagement Center program is based on current evidence-
based practices that engage families, educators and community
members in the educational process to enhance student academic
achievement. This program offers families a variety of opportunities