The funding will help expand the number of cybersecurity professionals in Maine
Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured $974,000 for Thomas College in the Fiscal Year 2023 Education appropriations bill.
The omnibus funding package passed the Senate by a vote of 68-29. It will now be passed by the House before heading to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
“Cyberattacks pose a grave risk to our national security, intellectual property, personal data, and public safety. Several recent high-profile hacks have demonstrated how vulnerable U.S. networks are to cyberattacks and should serve as a wake-up call about the need to address our glaring vulnerabilities,” said Senator Collins. “By helping to train and expand the next generation of cybersecurity professionals in Maine, Thomas College’s Project Sentinel will protect our computer networks while also creating career paths to good-paying jobs for Mainers.”
“Project Sentinel is aligned with Thomas College’s longstanding commitment to first-generation and low-income students as well as those from rural Maine as it increases access to specialized degree programs for traditionally underrepresented students,” said Laurie Lachance, Thomas College President. “Leveraging the potential of those in our local communities to meet industry demand in the growing and crucial arena of cybersecurity positions us well to evolve along with the changing needs of the workforce. We could not be more grateful for Congress’ investment in both the potential of the students we serve and the workforce wellness of our great state. Thank you to Senator Collins and her colleagues for recognizing the potential this opportunity represents and for advocating on our behalf.”
The funding will support Thomas College’s “Project Sentinel,” which will create a pipeline for qualified students into Thomas College's undergraduate and graduate degree programs in cybersecurity, computer science, and technology-related fields to quickly expand enrollment and employment opportunities. By increasing access to specialized degree programs for traditionally underrepresented students, this effort will help increase the number of professionals in the cybersecurity field, which is in high demand.
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