Companies based in the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center (GCITC) welcomed 100 middle school students to the campus for Cyber Georgia STEMFest 2026.
STEMFest, in partnership with the Cyber Fusion Innovation Center (CFIC), brings students from across Georgia for a day of science, technology, engineering, math, and cyber activities. It is to help students explore career pathways available in their future.
“We’re thrilled to welcome students back to the Georgia Cyber Center for another unforgettable day of discovery, problem-solving, and creativity. STEMFest plays an important role in introducing young learners to the endless opportunities available in cybersecurity and related STEM careers,” said Eric Toler, Executive Director of GCITC.
Sponsors this year included the National Security Agency (NSA), Savannah River Site Community Reuse Organization (SRSCRO), and SteelGate. The company, based in Virginia, specializes in problem-solving in cybersecurity, C4 systems support, and infrastructure modernization. The company has supported STEMFest events in the past.
Tad Bennett, a cyber subject matter expert outreach and internship coordinator for the company, told ABD that they get involved to support the community and the schools.
“These kids that are here are showing interest in cyber, and we want to encourage that and support that in any way we can,” he said. “This is a good way to do it, because the GCC and the other organizations that are here, that’s what they’re all about, and we’re a partner here in the building, so we want to support that as much as we can.”
Bennett said events like this are beneficial for both students and the company. For students, it is a way to guide them through decision-making as they pursue their academics in high school and college. They see the careers available in their future and what companies are hiring.
The company benefits by developing early relationships with students who may make good candidates for the company’s internship programs through Augusta University and USCA.
“We want to see them. We want to get to know the kids early. We can bring them in for internships when they get into college and maybe potential positions and jobs years from now as they grow up and learn,” he explained.
CFIC is a non-profit organization that collaborates with the U.S. Army Cyber Command to support national security with cutting-edge cyber solutions.
Amanda Green, Associate Project Manager with CFIC, said they are focused on innovation at every level, from government entities to academia and industry.
“We want to start with the children in our area, because we know that Augusta is becoming a very big cyber hub,” she said. “We want to make sure that we’re supporting the area children for something that they may not get on a constant basis, and just give them the opportunity to meet other students who are interested in similar things and help them understand how they could come into fields like ours.”
Green added that, in addition to nurturing students’ career aspirations, events like STEMFest can also keep them in the local workforce pipeline by showing them what careers are available in the CSRA.
Schools that participated were:
- Glascock County Middle School (Glascock)
- Hephzibah Middle School (Richmond)
- Lincoln County Middle School (Lincoln)
- New Ellenton STEAM Magnet Middle School (Aiken)
- Immaculate Conception Catholic School (Richmond – Private)
- A.R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet School (Richmond)
- Grovetown Middle School (Columbia)
- Richmond County Technical Career Magnet School (Richmond)
- John S. Davidson Fine Arts Middle School (Richmond)
- Lakeside Middle School (Columbia)
- W.S Hornsby Middle School (Richmond)
- Belair Middle School (Richmond)
There is also a STEMFest for high school students. That will be Oct. 18 at GCITC. More information is available at https://www.gacybercenter.org/stemfest/.
