KnowBe4 Names Kaleb Worku First Recipient of $10,000 Scholarship for Black Americans in Cybersecurity

TAMPA BAY, Fla., Jan. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- KnowBe4, the provider of the world's largest security awareness training and simulated phishing platform, today announced it has named Kaleb Worku as its first recipient of the $10,000 Black American Scholarship in partnership with the Center for Cyber Safety and Education.

Worku will receive a $10,000 scholarship to be applied to tuition, fees, books, electronics, and up to $3,000 of that total may be applied to on-campus housing. He can choose to pay the scholarship amount all at once or spread it out over the course of multiple semesters, including summer session. Worku is attending Augusta University, majoring in cybersecurity.

"As the recipient of this KnowBe4 scholarship, I am honored and grateful to be selected," said Worku. "Receiving this scholarship allows me to continue my cybersecurity studies without the worry or stress of paying out of pocket for college expenses. I can now focus on my studies and this scholarship gets me one step closer to fulfilling my career and professional aspirations!"

"As a member of the selection committee for this scholarship, Kaleb's passion for and interest in pursuing a meaningful career in the field of cybersecurity really stood out," said Javvad Malik, security awareness advocate, KnowBe4. "Despite facing obstacles and challenges, he maintains a positive demeanor and outlook, choosing to focus on the things that were inside his control and sphere of influence as opposed to letting things outside of his control wear him down. It's the exact kind of tenacity that I believe will see him forge a great career with the right help and guidance."

"We are very proud to be partnering with an industry leader like KnowBe4 to award this historic scholarship," said Patrick Craven, director, Center for Cyber Safety and Education. "There is a worldwide shortage of cybersecurity professionals and that gap is magnified by the lack of women and minorities. We hope this scholarship will serve as inspirations to others to join Kaleb, the Center and KnowBe4 in our efforts to make it a safer cyber world for everyone."

Applications for the 2021 Scholarship for Black Americans in Cybersecurity will open February 1 and close April 19. More information is available at https://iamcybersafe.org/s/knowbe4-black-americans-scholarship.

About KnowBe4
KnowBe4, the provider of the world's largest security awareness training and simulated phishing platform, is used by more than 35,000 organizations around the globe. Founded by IT and data security specialist Stu Sjouwerman, KnowBe4 helps organizations address the human element of security by raising awareness about ransomware, CEO fraud and other social engineering tactics through a new-school approach to awareness training on security. Kevin Mitnick, an internationally recognized cybersecurity specialist and KnowBe4's Chief Hacking Officer, helped design the KnowBe4 training based on his well-documented social engineering tactics. Tens of thousands of organizations rely on KnowBe4 to mobilize their end users as the last line of defense.

About the Center for Cyber Safety and Education
The Center for Cyber Safety and Education (Center), is the non-profit charitable trust of (ISC)2 and is committed to making the cyber world a safer place for everyone. The Center works to ensure that people across the globe have a positive and safe experience online through their award-winning educational programs, scholarships, and research. Visit http://www.IAmCyberSafe.org to learn more.

Media Contact

Amanda Tarantino, KnowBe4, 7277484221, [email protected]

SOURCE KnowBe4