UD Awards First-Ever Sturgeon Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship

Master of Science Student Paves Cybersecurity Path for Women

The University of Dallas is proud to announce the first-ever recipient of the George S. Sturgeon Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship, business graduate student Dominique West. As a finalist for the scholarship, West presented an essay both in person and via a web video. West is graduating with her M.S. in Cybersecurity in May and will receive a $3,000 scholarship to apply toward her final semester at UD.

“It’s truly an honor to be the first recipient of the Sturgeon Cybersecurity Scholarship. This scholarship is much bigger than me — it is a first step toward opening the door for so many women aiming to further their careers in cybersecurity,” said West. “This award shows that women of all backgrounds have a space in the cybersecurity field, and I hope I can serve as a source of inspiration; I aim to inspire and encourage myself, and in turn, I hope to become a source of inspiration for other women in my field.”

“I am very proud of the work UD is doing to promote women in business and cybersecurity. There is certainly more to be done, and we are committed to being part of the solution,” said Gupta College of Business Dean Brett J. L. Landry. “This year there were many very qualified women who applied, and the selection committee had a difficult task in choosing the recipient.”   

The Sturgeon Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship, first announced during the fall 2018 semester, strengthens the university's reputation as a leader in cybersecurity education. Provided by Ellen M. Sturgeon, the scholarship includes matching funds from Fidelity Investments and was created in honor of the late cybersecurity professional George S. Sturgeon.

Since 2003, the University of Dallas Cybersecurity program has been designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The university's Cybersecurity program was also recently ranked among the "Best Online Master of Cybersecurity Degree Programs," including No. 1 in Texas by Master's Programs Guide.

About the Sturgeon Cybersecurity Scholarship

Master of Science in Cybersecurity and MBA students with a cyber concentration in their second year (or students with a minimum of 15 credits completed) are eligible to receive the scholarship. Additionally, they must:

• be in good academic standing with an overall GPA of at least 3.5;
• be a female domestic and/or international student; and
• be a full-time or part-time student.

George S. Sturgeon dedicated 30 years of his career as a diplomat with the U.S. Department of State in the field of information assurance. His work took him to American embassies worldwide as he collaborated cohesively with his colleagues domestically and internationally to secure classified data. In a predominantly male industry, George Sturgeon would be honored to inspire and encourage women to take on such a gratifying career and shoot for the stars.

Eligible students may apply for the 2020 Sturgeon Cybersecurity Scholarship on the University of Dallas website.