Apply now for a Leadership Development or Student Scholarship!

The Central Ohio ISSA Scholarship Foundation is proud to offer a scholarship program to provide opportunities for cybersecurity students and professionals to further their education and career opportunities. Recipients are selected for their demonstrated commitment to personal and career development with the aim of empowering them with the financial support necessary to make impactful contributions to their professional communities and the cybersecurity community at large. 

Each year, one scholarship recipient will be designated a Justin Kirby Scholar in honor and memory of Justin’s work and dedication to the cybersecurity field.

Scholarship Criteria

To be considered for a scholarship, applicants must: 

  1. Live in Ohio

  2. Be motivated to expand their leadership or professional skills in support of the cybersecurity or information security field, OR be a high school or college student pursuing an education in cybersecurity or information security in the 2026-27 academic school year

  3. Require funding assistance for either  

    1. a cybersecurity certification  

    2. a cybersecurity training course

    3. tuition support

  4. Not have previously been a COISSA Scholarship recipient. (Applicants are limited to receiving one scholarship per lifetime.)

Application Instructions

  1. Complete the form below.

  2. Request that a colleague, supervisor, teacher, school counselor, coach, or professor who knows your work well submit a signed letter of recommendation in pdf format via email to info@coissascholarship.org. The letter of recommendation must include the nature of the recommender’s relationship to the candidate as well as the contact information of your reference for validation. Please request that your recommender include your name in the subject line of the email.

  3. Ensure that all required materials are submitted by February 27, 2026.

Note: Applicants may be asked to participate in an interview with members of the selection committee. Scholarship winners will be invited to attend the annual COISSA Infosec Summit to receive their awards. Attendance is not mandatory.