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Meet Scholarship Winner: Abhijeet Kumar

  Hi, I’m Abhijeet Kumar, a master’s student in Cybersecurity Engineering at the University of Maryland. I’m really grateful to The Diana Initiative for supporting international students like me and giving us the opportunity to grow and thrive in this field. Having moved to the U.S. from India, I’ve been amazed by the openness and enthusiasm of the cybersecurity community through conferences, hacker clubs, and mentorship. I used to watch recordings of Black Hat, DEF CON, BSides, and The Diana Initiative online, and I always wanted to attend in person one day. Thanks to this scholarship, that dream is now becoming a reality. I’ll be experiencing Hacker Summer Camp live for the first time. What I’m most excited about is the chance to get hands-on practice, connect with mentors in red teaming as I prepare for my OSCP, and meet and network with others who are equally passionate about cybersecurity. Events like this offer lessons you can’t get from videos; they provide real tools, real ...
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Meet Scholarship Winner: Jennifer Peterson

 

Hi! I’m Jennifer Peterson, a proud coding bootcamp graduate, career changer, and mom. After working over 10 years in customer service and healthcare, I recently made the shift into tech because I was looking for something more fulfilling. This fall, I’ll be starting as a computer science major at LaGuardia Community College. It will be my first time back in school in 15 years, and I’m excited to continue building my skills and growing in this field.

Being awarded The Diana Initiative Scholarship is such an honor, and I’m so excited to attend Hacker Summer Camp for the first time. I’m looking forward to exploring DEFCON and Black Hat, discovering new tools, and learning from real-world experiences. I’m hoping to meet people whose stories and paths inspire me, and to leave this experience feeling more confident, empowered, and ready to keep pushing forward in my cybersecurity journey.

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