What happened
San Jacinto College in Pasadena, Texas, announced it has received a $50,000 Local Impact Grant from the Deloitte Foundation aimed at supporting students pursuing cybersecurity and information technology education. The funds will be used to cover CompTIA certification exam fees and materials for approximately 165 students enrolled in the college’s technology, cybersecurity, and IT programs, including certificate, associate, and bachelor’s degree pathways.
Who is affected
The grant will directly benefit high school students, college students, and young adults participating in San Jacinto College’s cybersecurity and IT curriculum. It supports programs that prepare learners for industry-recognized credentials and careers in the technology sector.
Why CISOs should care
CISOs should pay attention to investments like this because they help expand the pipeline of qualified cybersecurity talent at a time when organizations continue to struggle with skills shortages. By enabling more students to earn certifications and degrees, the grant contributes to strengthening the future workforce, particularly in roles like security analyst, incident responder, and network defender. Supporting education initiatives today can help reduce staffing gaps and improve the overall security posture of enterprises tomorrow.
3 practical actions
- Engage with local academic partners: Connect with institutions like San Jacinto College to offer internships, mentorships, or advisory support that align education with real-world security needs.
- Sponsor certification assistance: Corporate CISOs can explore funding or collaboration opportunities to subsidize certification costs for students, mirroring the Deloitte Foundation’s model.
Promote early-career recruitment: Build structured entry-level programs targeting graduates of supported cybersecurity programs to create a sustained talent pipeline.