Optiv Awards $10,000 Scholarship to Cybersecurity Student Andrew Tolbert

• •Andrew Tolbert awarded a $10,000 scholarship by Optiv's Black Employee Network.
• •Scholarship aims to promote diversity and address the cybersecurity talent shortage.
• •Tolbert is committed to protecting vulnerable populations from cybercrime.

Optiv has awarded a $10,000 scholarship to Andrew Tolbert, a high school graduate from Oak Park, Illinois, through its Black Employee Network (BEN). This scholarship aims to address the cybersecurity talent shortage and promote diversity in the field. Tolbert will attend Purdue University, majoring in cybersecurity, and has expressed a commitment to protecting vulnerable populations from cybercrime. His interest in cybersecurity was sparked by witnessing phishing scams affecting those around him. He has completed an internship focused on cybersecurity awareness and earned CompTIA certifications. The scholarship includes mentorship from Optiv to support his academic journey.