DARK Endowment Scholarship
for Cybersecurity
$2,000 Scholarships will be awarded to deserving students who have demonstrated academic preparation, a passion for cybersecurity, and a commitment to contributing to the field.
2026 Recipients DARK Endowment Cybersecurity Scholarship
Ian Beck
I am a student attending UTSA for cybersecurity degree. What draws me to cyber is that it is only getting bigger and bigger with new tech every day. One of my goals in college is to get internships to get experience.
Rabin Bhandari
My name is Rabin Bhandari, and I am a first-generation immigrant who will be attending George Washington University to study International Business, with a concentration or minor in Information Systems and a minor in Sustainability. Growing up, I noticed that many students around me had incredible potential but lacked access to the opportunities and support they needed to succeed, which is why I founded and serve as President of Young Immigrants of America, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering immigrant youth through mentorship, advocacy, and community engagement. My interest in technology, cybersecurity, and information systems comes from seeing how powerful these tools can be in creating opportunities and solving real-world problems. Through my education and future career, I hope to give back to the community that has supported me and helped open doors for others just as so many people did for me.
Aydin Brodie
My name is Aydin Brodie, and I am an upcoming Virginia Tech student with an interest in cybersecurity and technology. I enjoy learning how computer systems work and how networks and data can be accessed by outsiders. My goal is to continue studying cybersecurity and pursue a career helping people from underprivileged areas learn not just about cybersecurity but IT as a whole.
Alex Cantor
I am an incoming student to the University of Maryland with a passion for cybersecurity, driven by its unique combination of problem-solving, technical depth, and real-world impact in protecting systems, data, and people. I am especially drawn to adversarial simulation through red teaming, penetration testing, and developing custom security tooling to protect critical systems. My ultimate goal is to build strong technical and communication skills so I can help secure technology for the people who depend on it. I am incredibly excited to continue this journey and contribute to the safety of our digital world.
Abigel Daniel
I am excited to start my freshman year this fall at an accredited university, where I will be majoring in Computer Science and possibly minoring in cybersecurity. I am drawn to cybersecurity because I want to learn how to write secure code and build well-made software systems. My goal is to eventually work as a secure software developer after specializing in the field. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and look forward to combining my passions for coding and security!
Jonathan Garcia
Hello! My name is Jonathan, and I plan to attend the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. What reeled me into cybersecurity was a learning platform called CyberStart America, where I placed 1st in my state during my freshman year by completing all 250 challenges and learning about red teaming and blue teaming. One of my goals is to continue growing with the Las Vegas Valley Water District, where I’m currently interning for the summer, and eventually work as an analyst.
Alyssa Hayman
I will be attending University of South Florida – Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Computing in the Fall of 2026, majoring in Cybersecurity and minoring in Intelligence Studies. I will also be studying AI to complement both Cyber and Intelligence Studies. I plan to be in the Future Strategist Program at the USF Global and National Security Institute to enhance my education and research in Cybersecurity, AI, and National And Global Intelligence. I have been interested in cybersecurity and intelligence studies for the government since middle school so I am excited and ready to get started in the fall. I can’t wait to see what I can achieve with the education, knowledge, and opportunities USF has to help me grow. USF has always been my top choice, yes, even above UF, FSU, and UCF. I am local and grew up in Tampa and have volunteered a lot within the community including USF Bulls Fest and the USF Summer Cyber and CodeBreakHERS camps. I am proud to be a Bull 🤘🏻
Kapil Inguva
After witnessing credit card theft firsthand, I became deeply invested in understanding how cyberattacks unfold and developing the expertise to combat them. That experience ignited my passion for pursuing cybersecurity and my goal of protecting the communities around me. I am deeply honored by the Dark Endowment Scholarship’s support as I kick-start my lifelong cyber journey. I will be attending Carnegie Mellon University this fall and hope to make a meaningful impact on the digital world.
Yumi Lee
My name is Yumi Lee, and I will be majoring in Computer Science and Engineering at UCLA. I’m drawn to the world of cybersecurity for its unique mix of creative problem solving and logical reasoning. In the future, I hope to work at a government agency, specifically contributing to the digital forensics sector on a national scale.
Tyler Looze
My name is Tyler, and beginning next year, I will be majoring in Cybersecurity as well as Computer Science. Cybersecurity is an ever changing field, which is why it is such an interesting field of study for me. This scholarship is a great help toward my future endeavors within the cybersecurity world.
Alfredo Lopez-Salas
I’m Freddy Lopez-Salas, an incoming Information Systems student at Carnegie Mellon University with a minor in Information Security, Privacy & Policy. Growing up, I became fascinated by how technology could be both a tool and a threat, which pushed me toward cybersecurity as a field where I could make a real impact. Outside of academics, I founded Latino Athletes USA, a nonprofit supporting young athletes, and compete nationally in Taekwondo, both of which have taught me the discipline and leadership that I bring into everything I do. My goal is to bridge the gap between AI and security, building systems that are not only intelligent but also trustworthy and resilient.
Kingston Morgan
My name is Kingston and I plan to attend Georgia Tech to study computing and mathematics while continuing to grow my interests in technology and cybersecurity. I have always been drawn to problem solving, innovation, and understanding how technology works. This is what sparked my interest in cybersecurity. I am excited to develop skills that can help protect digital systems and contribute to new technological solutions. My goal is to earn my degree and eventually start my very own successful cyber company.
Adam Sakouk
Hi everyone! My name is Adam, and I am planning to study Computer Science, specifically the cybersecurity track, at the University of Maryland, College Park. What draws me to cybersecurity is the problem-solving aspect and learning how technology works as a whole. There are so many unique ways to combat, find, or fix problems in cybersecurity, which makes it a truly great field. My goal is to learn about and secure many of the available operating systems, especially Windows, and share my findings to the community (https://sakouk.me)!
Bryson Selby
My name is Bryson Selby, and I am a blind student with a passion for cybersecurity and technology. I aspire to study cybersecurity to help make technology more accessible while protecting individuals, organizations, and their data from evolving digital threats. I am drawn to the field because it offers meaningful opportunities to solve complex problems, contribute to society, and build a career where I can make a lasting impact. I plan to attend the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to pursue a degree in Cybersecurity with a concentration in Artificial Intelligence. Through this education, I hope to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to advance both security and accessibility in the technology industry.
Chance Smalls
My name is Chance Smalls, and I am a graduating high school senior from Georgia who will be continuing my education in computer science and cybersecurity. I became interested in cybersecurity because I enjoy problem-solving and protecting people and organizations from digital threats. Throughout high school, I have earned my CompTIA Security+ certification, participated in cybersecurity programs and competitions, and worked on projects that strengthened my technical and leadership skills. In the future, I hope to build a career in cybersecurity while also helping create more opportunities for students interested in STEM and technology.
Kylie Spice
My name is Kylie Spice. In the fall I will be studying Cybersecurity at STCC. I am drawn to Cybersecurity because I like helping people and teaching them how to stay safe on the internet.
Eliana Wang
I am an incoming freshman at the Georgia Institute of Technology. I plan to study computer science with a concentration in cybersecurity. I am interested in the intersection of cybersecurity and AI, such as using machine learning for intrusion detection and malware analysis.