Volunteer for FLL!

• Step by step guide on how to become a volunteer (pdf)
• Volunteer resources and information

If you are unable to volunteer, you can still come to the gargantuan and very busy FIRST LEGO League (FLL) state tournament. Exc itement, robotics, and LEGOS! Most importantly, come support the students who have worked hard and see what they've accomplished! 

What does all this FLL stuff look like? Watch this team from S. Korea in last year's challenge, at "World Fest", spring 2017, which is where many of the state-level winners go to compete.)

Bring your kids to the Dec 3 (Sunday) competition at Harrisonburg High School to see them compete in this year's challenge: Hydrodynamics 

2017 Challenge: Hydrodynamics
Drink in the 2017/2018 HYDRO DYNAMICSSM season and learn all about water - how we find, transport, use, or dispose of it. In the 2017/18 FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge, students age 9 to 16 from 80 countries will make a splash with HYDRO DYNAMICS. What might become possible when we understand what happens to our water?

FIRST® LEGO® League challenges kids to think like scientists and engineers. During the HYDRO DYNAMICSSM season, teams will choose and solve a real-world problem in the Project. They will also build, test, and program an autonomous robot using LEGO® MINDSTORMS® technology to solve a set of missions in the Robot Game. Throughout their experience, teams will operate under the FIRST LEGO League signature set of Core Values, celebrating discovery, teamwork, and Gracious Professionalism®

For more information and full schedule, visit  https://va-dcfll.org/2017-vadc-state-tournament/.

Governor McAuliffe and Secretary of Technology Karen Jackson Jointly Recognized as One of the SANS Institute's 2017 "Difference Makers" Award Winners

 

~ Award recognizes their work on cyber security  ~

 

RICHMOND - The SANS Institute has recognized Governor Terry McAuliffe and Secretary of Technology Karen Jackson jointly as one of their 2017 "Difference Makers" Award winners for their work on cyber security. The "Difference Maker" Awards have been presented annually since 2011 to those whose innovation, skill, and hard work have resulted in real successes in information security.

 

Since the beginning of his administration, Governor McAuliffe has been committed to improving cyber security across the Commonwealth. During his time in office, Virginia has expanded cyber security apprenticeships, created partnerships to strengthen cyber security employment, provided additional educational opportunities, and offered scholarships to Virginians across the Commonwealth. Additionally, under Governor McAuliffe's leadership, Virginia partnered with the SANS Institute to offer CyberStart, a free online game that provides high school juniors, seniors, community college, and college students interested in a cybersecurity career, with a tool to learn basic cyber security skills and test their cyber aptitude.

 

"I am honored to receive this award and I want to thank the SANS Institute for recognizing the success we have achieved to make the Commonwealth a global leader in cyber security," said Governor McAuliffe. "This sector is an essential component of the 21st century economy and Virginia is home to one of the highest concentrations of cyber professionals in the country. I am proud of my administration's work to implement educational programs which will provide a pipeline of highly trained, industry-ready cyber workers who will continue to expand our footprint in this industry."

 

"Since day one of the Administration, we've worked diligently to secure the Commonwealth'' networks and build a comprehensive cyber ecosystem. It is an honor to have our work recognized by SANS," said Secretary of Technology Karen Jackson.

 

"The leadership shown by Governor McAuliffe and Secretary Jackson was remarkable," said Alan Paller, National Program Manager, U.DS. CyberStart and Director of Research, SANS Institute. "They were the catalysts enabling CyberStart to make the transition from the United Kingdom to the United States.  And their public education program created opportunities for 2,000 Virginians, both urban and rural, to demonstrate often hidden talent for success as cybersecurity professionals." 

 

Learn more about the 2017 "Difference Makers" Award here.

 

About the SANS Institute :

The SANS Institute was established in 1989 as a cooperative research and education organization. Its programs now reach more than 165,000 security professionals around the world. A range of individuals from auditors and network administrators, to chief information security officers are sharing the lessons they learn and are jointly finding solutions to the challenges they face. At the heart of SANS are the many security practitioners in varied global organizations from corporations to universities working together to help the entire information security community.

Blue Ridge Community College is looking for STEM professionals to be mentors to STEM students, by providing encouragement and moral support, and being a positive role model.  For more information please  email Jamie, BRCC's Mentoring Coordinator, at [email protected].  If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out the form in the link below. 

• Validate your business model
• Build the right team of three or more members
• Develop a minimum viable product (MVP)
• Create early sales traction
• Establish distribution channels and key partnerships

• During this 3-week program, there is extensive work done outside the classroom. In addition to the two class meetings, participants should expect to spend another 10-15 hours per week on customer discovery and course assignments.
• At the conclusion of the program, you will remain connected with your ICAP trainers and SBDC Business Advisors to continue your progress on the Five Steps to Startup Success.

College for Kids is an enrichment program for children in grades 1-8. Children will work with James Madison University faculty and graduate students, as well as experts from the community and surrounding area, to try new things, explore and discover talents they never knew they had! College for Kids is being held this year on Saturday, January 13 - February 17, 2018 from 9-12pm. 

Registration fee of $135.00 covers all 6 Saturdays

For more information, please contact Melissa Heatwole at [email protected] or (540) 568-4226