Polk State high school senior overcomes brain surgery, receives National Cyber Award ahead of graduating with college degree

Taylor 阿尔瓦雷斯 is not defined by the brain tumor discovered her junior year of high school that resulted in brain surgery just a week later, 所以让我们把她的故事的这一部分弄清楚.

More awe-inspiring are the countless accomplishments 阿尔瓦雷斯 has achieved as a student at 波尔克州立莱克兰大学高中. She will graduate with her Associate in Arts degree with 澳门新葡京博彩第130届毕业班, before she even has her high school diploma in hand.

“去年我得了脑瘤. Nothing could have prepared me for that, but I had no idea I would be doing all of this today. It pushed me to do more of what I love,” 阿尔瓦雷斯 explained. “My medical issue happened, but I am so much more than that. I am appreciative of people being receptive to that.”

阿尔瓦雷斯是一名研究人员, 道德黑客, 一个导师, 学生领袖, 学校吉祥物, 即将成为澳门新葡京博彩的校友.

以前的在线学生, 阿尔瓦雷斯 says she was motivated to enroll at 波尔克州立莱克兰大学高中 to “create connections that matter.”

“As someone who wants to go into competitive cybersecurity and ethical hacking, I didn’t think I necessarily needed a college degree because I can get my information and training online,她解释道, “但在澳门新葡京博彩, 我觉得我从来没学过这么多.”

“As someone who wants to go into competitive cybersecurity and ethical hacking, I didn’t think I necessarily needed a college degree because I can get my information and training online, 但在澳门新葡京博彩, 我觉得我从来没学过这么多.”

澳门新葡京博彩高中 allow students to complete their high school requirements and college credits simultaneously and at no cost to them. Most collegiate students graduate with their college degrees.

阿尔瓦雷斯 shared that in addition to a free college degree and quality higher education, 澳门新葡京博彩帮助她进行自我宣传, 沟通技巧, and networking opportunities she may not have had access to otherwise.

她对 网络系统工程技术专业 约翰·斯图尔特导演: 学生活动及领导办公室(SALO) 导演梅尔文·汤普森，还有 残疾事务办公室 who provided support and resources when she needed them.

阿尔瓦雷斯 also highlighted the research opportunities available through Polk State’s chapter of the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Program.

“There is a really strong sense of community here at Polk State through SALO and the different student clubs, LSAMP和STEM研究机会, and all the events and resources available to students,”她说。.

阿尔瓦雷斯创办了学院的网络安全俱乐部, 波尔克州立网络鹰, 谁参加了网络安全竞赛. She has also crossed off one of her “bucket list” items, serving as Polk State’s mascot Charlie.

“Getting involved is what has really set my experience at Polk State apart from just going to school online,她想道。. “I highly encourage students to take advantage of these opportunities – you will learn and grow more than you can imagine.”

Her research and involvement with LSAMP have taken 阿尔瓦雷斯 to conferences at Valencia College, 休斯顿, 和华盛顿, D.C.

“It was an honor to be accepted into a national conference for undergraduates and graduate students,高中生惊叫道. “我遇到了很多人，包括美国官员.S.) Assistant Secretary of Defense and shared about my research which is unique in that it is aimed at increasing security for satellite hacking which is not being widely researched or talked about.”

阿尔瓦雷斯 has also served as a volunteer for Hack Space Con at the Kennedy Space Center and was recently awarded the National Cyber Scholarship from the National Cyber Scholarship 基金会, which aims to “develop a new generation of cyber stars to help close the critical skills gap in the cybersecurity industry.”

阿尔瓦雷斯 plans to continue her education at the University of Central Florida, where she will double major in computer and electrical engineering. She also aspires to join the award-winning UCF Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition Team, 在全国范围内竞争. 和她的研究分开, she has presented to students at UCF on “Intro to Radio Frequency Hacking.”

“我在这里的经历非常宝贵. There is nothing worth more than what I have gained and learned at Polk State.”

“我只想参加比赛, 做我的调查, and hopefully join the Department of Defense or National Security Space Institute one day,阿尔瓦雷斯说. “我希望能拿到硕士和博士学位.D.与卫星或神经科学合作.”

It is easy to see how 阿尔瓦雷斯 is much more than her former brain tumor.

She credits Polk State with giving her the support she needed, not only during her medical situation but also as she grew as a student and researcher.

“Coming from a family that has not had much college, I didn’t know where to go or how to get the resources I needed,她解释道. “It wasn’t until one of my professors learned about my situation and contacted the 残疾事务办公室 on my behalf that I realized just how much support I truly had. Just when I thought no one understood what I was going through, people at Polk State stepped in and stepped up to get me the help I needed.”

她的事业蒸蒸日上.

“我在这里的经历非常宝贵,” 阿尔瓦雷斯 exclaimed. “There is nothing worth more than what I have gained and learned at Polk State.”