Loyola Blakefield Cyber Science Program Celebrates 10 Years of Global Leadership & Excellence
What started as a modest after-school club with six students in 2011 has grown to become one of the world’s leading youth cyber education programs. Since its inception, the Loyola Blakefield Cyber Science Initiative has garnered international attention via awards in competitions, through its service and outreach programming, and via the success of its members in job and internship placement at many of the world’s leading tech and security firms. The program, founded by Steve Morrill, Director of Technology, now celebrates 10 years of leadership, service, and excellence.
In addition to a variety of accolades that include being recognized as the Nation's First Cyber Teacher, Morrill was recently named Cyber Patriot Coach of the Year. The award was presented by the Air Force Association, which hosts the annual CyberPatriot competition and is dedicated to improving student performance in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Morrill has gained an international reputation as the architect behind the innovative cyber program. He has traveled to Australia on two occasions to meet with national security leaders, politicians and educators to share the success of Loyola’ program and provide professional learning workshops. He has also conducted trainings with educational leaders in in Singapore. Additionally, he has served on several cyber education advisory boards to help solve the industry’s talent pipeline shortage.
“It has been amazing to watch the tiny seed we planted here grow to become such an innovative program. It is even more gratifying to witness students go on to achieve success in the field and pursue Cyber as a passion in their college studies and careers,” said Morrill. “This field will continue to grow, and Loyola is proud to be at the cutting edge of this global movement.”
Loyola’s Cyber Science program membership currently includes more than 150 students in grades 6–12 and is supported via corporate sponsorship from Edward St. John Foundation (Presenting Sponsor) and T. Rowe Price (Cornerstone Sponsor). The program provides students with industry-caliber skills required by today’s fastest growing employers and offers them the most advanced opportunities to apply those skills in the classroom and in competition. Students are further enabled to test drive future careers, engage in service work relative to the field of cyber security and digital citizenship, and design products that promote cyber education and discovery.
Ten-Year Anniversary Celebration
The program gathered students, alumni, parents, and partner organizations on Thursday, October 21, to formally celebrate the 10-year anniversary. The event featured the premiere of the Cyber 10-Year Video (embedded above), as well as remarks from former Loyola Blakefield Board of Trustees member Edward Burchell Jr. '84, P '16, '20, program founder Steve Morrill, and alumni Jeremy Krach '13 and Edward Burchell III '16. To conclude the evening, our current students provided tours of our new Cyber Lab in St. Ignatius Hall. View photos from the night and watch the entire ceremony below.
To learn more about Loyola’s Cyber Science Initiative, visit loyolablakefield.org/cyber.
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In addition to a variety of accolades that include being recognized as the Nation's First Cyber Teacher, Morrill was recently named Cyber Patriot Coach of the Year. The award was presented by the Air Force Association, which hosts the annual CyberPatriot competition and is dedicated to improving student performance in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Morrill has gained an international reputation as the architect behind the innovative cyber program. He has traveled to Australia on two occasions to meet with national security leaders, politicians and educators to share the success of Loyola’ program and provide professional learning workshops. He has also conducted trainings with educational leaders in in Singapore. Additionally, he has served on several cyber education advisory boards to help solve the industry’s talent pipeline shortage.
“It has been amazing to watch the tiny seed we planted here grow to become such an innovative program. It is even more gratifying to witness students go on to achieve success in the field and pursue Cyber as a passion in their college studies and careers,” said Morrill. “This field will continue to grow, and Loyola is proud to be at the cutting edge of this global movement.”
Loyola’s Cyber Science program membership currently includes more than 150 students in grades 6–12 and is supported via corporate sponsorship from Edward St. John Foundation (Presenting Sponsor) and T. Rowe Price (Cornerstone Sponsor). The program provides students with industry-caliber skills required by today’s fastest growing employers and offers them the most advanced opportunities to apply those skills in the classroom and in competition. Students are further enabled to test drive future careers, engage in service work relative to the field of cyber security and digital citizenship, and design products that promote cyber education and discovery.
Ten-Year Anniversary Celebration
The program gathered students, alumni, parents, and partner organizations on Thursday, October 21, to formally celebrate the 10-year anniversary. The event featured the premiere of the Cyber 10-Year Video (embedded above), as well as remarks from former Loyola Blakefield Board of Trustees member Edward Burchell Jr. '84, P '16, '20, program founder Steve Morrill, and alumni Jeremy Krach '13 and Edward Burchell III '16. To conclude the evening, our current students provided tours of our new Cyber Lab in St. Ignatius Hall. View photos from the night and watch the entire ceremony below.
To learn more about Loyola’s Cyber Science Initiative, visit loyolablakefield.org/cyber.
