Virginia’s Information Technologies Agency (VITA) and Department of Education (DOE) are co-sponsoring two competitions aimed at increasing cybersecurity awareness in young people. Both can be used as fun add-on activities for instructors to use in teaching Technology and You.

The first is the MS-ISAC Kids Safe Online poster contest for grades K-12. Entries are being accepted now for the 2023 contest; the deadline is Jan. 12, 2023. Visit VITA’s website for more information.

The second is the CyberStart America competition for grades 9-12. Students play CyberStart, a free, immersive cybersecurity training game, to learn more about cybersecurity and build skills that could prepare them for a technology career. They may also qualify for cyber training scholarships worth over $3,000. Registration is now open, and students can play until April 4, 2023. Visit VITA’s website for more information.