Gallatin College Montana State University will use a $50,000 Cybersecurity Pathways grant to help Montana educators and high school students gain skills and certification in cybersecurity, according to a Mar. 16 announcement.
The initiative aims to address the growing need for cybersecurity professionals in Montana by providing resources and opportunities for both teachers and students. Ronda Black, program director of information technology at Gallatin College MSU, received the one-year grant from the Montana’s Future at Work program, which supports career outreach through the Montana University System.
“Cybersecurity is not just information technology. It’s not just coding. It’s not just network administration,” Black said. “Cybersecurity is everywhere, and I think this grant is going to help students, teachers and counselors in every area to understand how they can be a part of it.”
Black launched the 406 CyberSmart Teachers’ Lounge on Jan. 29 as part of the project’s first phase, with plans to introduce a similar network for teens later in the spring semester. These online spaces will offer training materials, curriculum resources across subjects, collaborative tools for educators, games for students, and recordings from industry professionals discussing their work in cybersecurity.
The demand for cybersecurity workers continues to rise in Montana. More than 1,500 jobs were available in 2025 with projections showing rapid growth through 2034; information security analyst positions are expected to increase by 29%, much faster than most occupations’ average growth rate of 3%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Another component of the grant will allow about 25 high school students from Belgrade High School and Bozeman’s Petra Academy to earn CompTIA Security+ certifications at no cost after completing a dual-enrollment course. The certificate is sought after by more than 70,000 employers nationwide according to CyberSeek. “Out of my small classroom budget, the certification could cost me two grand for a class of 25… That’s not something our students would normally be able to do,” said Courtney Waliser, computer science and business education teacher at Belgrade High School.
Students will learn about system vulnerabilities, threat response strategies, identity management and other topics relevant both professionally and personally. Black said she wants lessons that empower students: “I really want to put tools in schools’ hands that teachers can use easily and that students can go home and use right away.”
To further support learning statewide, Black will create Cyber Kits containing instructional videos and hands-on activities tailored beyond computer science classes; these kits will be available through the MSU Library this spring.
“It’s really about empowering teachers to get their students excited about cybersecurity,” said Charly Malcom, director of business operations and finance for Gallatin College MSU.
Montana State University leads research funding in the state with annual expenditures exceeding $288 million according to its official website. The university also contributes through volunteer efforts and outreach aimed at improving lives across communities according to its official website. It ranks among the top five percent of global universities per the Center for World University Rankings according to its official website.
MSU enrolls approximately 17,165 students split evenly between residents and nonresidents according to its official website. As Montana’s land-grant institution based in Bozeman, it focuses on research, education and community outreach addressing key challenges according to its official website, extending its influence throughout Montana and beyond according to its official website. The university offers extensive academic programs while providing access to outdoor recreation amid vast wilderness areas according to its official website.