Huntsville, Ala. - Gov. Kay Ivey announced today a $10 million economic development grant to establish a new cyber camp and for campus expansion at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, home to Space Camp. The grant will enable the Rocket Center to expand its facilities to include U.S. Cyber Camp for high school students. The state support allows the Rocket Center to seek matching funds and support for additional Center growth, including science exhibit space.
Development of U.S. Cyber Camp is currently underway with the collaboration of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, the University of Alabama Huntsville and Cyber Huntsville, a cyber-security industry group chartered by Mayor Tommy Battle.
The inaugural U.S. Cyber Camp, held in July 2017, included 32 Alabama students from across Alabama. Additional programs are being planned this year to further develop the Cyber Camp curricula for students across Alabama. U.S. Cyber Camp will target Alabama’s awareness of careers and degrees in cybersecurity, and as an extension of the Space Camp model, build leadership and team building skills, and increase students’ confidence and performance in math and science.
“Expanding Cyber Camp in Alabama’s No. 1 tourist attraction, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, was a logical investment for the state,” Governor Ivey said. “More students will have the opportunity to train in cyber-security related fields of study and contribute to the increasing demand for cybersecurity professionals in Alabama and across the country.”
“We deeply appreciate Gov. Ivey’s wisdom in investing in Alabama’s future and its workforce and are energized by her confidence to invest in that future with us,” Dr. Deborah Barnhart, CEO and Executive Director of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, said.
“With Space Camp, our mission has been to light the fire of imagination and inspire our children to become the next generation of explorers,” Dr. Barnhart said. “Cyber Camp is the first step in defending our freedom to explore, to protect our homeland, to insure our privacy.”
Media contact: Pat Ammons, pat.ammons@spacecamp.com; 256-721-5429
About U.S. Space & Rocket Center
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is home to Space Camp® and Aviation Challenge®, the Apollo 16 capsule, the National Historic Landmark Saturn V rocket and world-class traveling exhibits. USSRC is the Official Visitor Center for NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and a showcase for national defense technologies developed at the U.S. Army’s Redstone Arsenal.
To learn more about the exciting programs and activities at the USSRC, go to www.rocketcenter.com.
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