Big things are in store for 2024 Ivy Tech Community College Graduate James Alger, who was recently announced as a recipient of the nationwide Department of Defense (DoD) Cyber Scholarship Program. As a recipient, Alger will have the next two years of his education paid for by the DoD as he attends Purdue University Northwest (PNW) in Hammond for his bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity followed by two years of working for Naval Surface Warfare Center (Crane Division) in Crane, Indiana, allowing him to further explore his passion for the field like never before.
The DoD Cyber Scholarship Program is a highly competitive and sought-out program for students nationwide – Alger was one of 85 chosen this year out of over 550 applicants. To be able to say he’s one of that select group is a huge honor, and he is beyond excited for what’s to come as he furthers his education and gains monumental career experience in the years ahead.
“I’ve always had a really strong interest in cybersecurity, and it’s a great opportunity to get the bachelor's degree paid for by the DoD. I get to be a full-time student, take two years to get my degree, and I can learn a lot more about cybersecurity. I have my associate’s degree now, so I’ll be able to get my bachelor's at PNW Hammond,” Alger said. “Then, I get to immediately work afterward as part of the service obligation, which they call a scholarship for service type, meaning you get to work for every year of school you do – two years of school is two years of work.”
Alger credits the numerous opportunities he had while attending Ivy Tech that helped him immerse himself in the world of cybersecurity and become eligible for the scholarship. His passion for the field was fueled even more through the various clubs, classes, and extracurriculars offered, and Alger did whatever he could to learn more about cybersecurity.
“Winning that award took James a lot of hard work and determination for almost two years,” said Cybersecurity and Information Assurance Program Chair Rami Maximus Salahieh. “James is an amazing student and is very hardworking. He constantly volunteers at Ivy Tech as a supplemental instructor and tutor. He was a Chief Gladiator for the CyberGladiator Club. He has participated on several occasions. This scholarship was not easy to win; it was a demonstration of his commitment, consistency, and hard work. That's huge — it’s a huge award for us and a huge award for him. We’re really proud of James.”
Earning this scholarship has been no easy feat, but immersing himself in all Ivy Tech had to offer was the advantageous key that allowed him to lock in the scholarship. Alger was also able to lean on mentors such as Salahieh, who helped him land two internships at Indiana Dunes Tourism and the Indiana Executive Council on Cybersecurity after Alger was denied when he first applied in 2023. Through these internships, he was able to gain real-world cybersecurity experiences including working on the Indiana Dunes Tourism cybersecurity project and attending governor meetings on cybersecurity in Indianapolis, all of which he thoroughly enjoyed and gave him great insight into his ventures ahead.
Moving forward, Alger is already ecstatic about the plethora of opportunities at his disposal thanks to the DoD Cyber Scholarship Program.
“You get a lot of opportunities afterward. One of the best parts about government work is that you get the government security clearance, which is amazing,” Alger said. “It opens up more doors for you than you would normally have if you just stick with the private sector. I’ll be busy these next few years studying and learning a lot, and I’m looking forward to it.”
None of this would have been possible, however, had Alger not attended Ivy Tech for his education. It opened up a world of experiences and opportunities for him, and he and Salahieh encourage others to explore what Ivy Tech can offer them in terms of reaching their personal and academic goals and want them to know that a student’s future is in good hands when they choose to come to Ivy Tech.
“We’re very proud of James for receiving this prestigious scholarship,” Salahieh said. “He's one of the very few Ivy Tech students to get this. I’ve been here at Ivy Tech for eight years, and I haven't seen anybody get this prestigious scholarship until now. If you come to Ivy Tech, there's a future for you here. We will make sure that you get the opportunity and grow to be a professional like James.”
For more information on Ivy Tech Community College, please visit ivytech.edu.
