MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — The National Cyber Scholarship Foundation recently awarded 11 students from New Jersey county vocational technical schools with the coveted “National Cyber Scholar” designation following a 48-hour national competition.

Noah Rediker of High Technology High School in Lincroft was among the list of students to receive the honor following the National Cyber Scholarship competition, which is designed to evaluate aptitude in combating cyber threats and encourage students to become part of the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.

Juniors and seniors named National Cyber Scholars, like Rediker, will qualify for scholarships and training opportunities. This year, 91 New Jersey students garnered more than $432,500 in funding.

“This competition highlights the immense talent we have in New Jersey, and we are proud of all of those who participated and had their efforts recognized at the national level,” said Jared M. Maples, director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. “The passion for cybersecurity exemplified by these young individuals gives us hope that the safety and security of New Jersey and the nation will remain in capable hands in the future.”

According to the New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools, New Jersey produced five times as many NCS Scholars as states of similar population size, such as Virginia and Maryland, and was on par with much larger states, like Texas and California.

There are several pathways to qualify for the next NCS competition, including CyberStart America, a free online program that helps students discover their interest in cybersecurity and develop their talent and skills.

This year, a record-breaking 2,188 New Jersey high school students registered to attempt various computer security puzzles and challenges that tested their skills in areas such as password cracking, reverse-engineering, memory corruption, and cryptography.

Registration for the 2021/22 CyberStart Game program will open in October. For more information on CyberStart America, visit www.cyberstartamerica.org.