Where Are They Now?

Thank you for your contributions and interest in the UMSA Scholarship Campaign. You’ve made and will continue to make a difference in the lives of our scholars, rising cybersecurity professionals who come from all walks of life but have one thing in common: their commitment to cybersecurity.

So, what has happened in the lives of our scholars since receiving their awards? Many of our recipients were able to check-in with us on their educational and employment status. Scroll below to see just what they’re up to and how the UMSA Foundation has impacted them.

About the UMSA Foundation Scholarship Program 

If you’d like to support, please make a donation here!

Morgan McLaughlin

Since receiving my UMSA 2024 scholarship award, I am now in my final year of my master’s degree. With the financial help from the scholarship, I was able to schedule additional classes each semester, accelerating the completion of my degree.

While finishing out my graduate degree, I am currently working full-time as a Senior Internal Auditor at Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield in Des Moines, IA. My role specializes in risk and compliance analysis and testing across the company.

Thank you again to the UMSA Scholarship Foundation for allowing me to pursue higher education to become an expert in my industry without the full financial burden. I will be forever grateful.

Oludayo Dahunsi

Having earned my Master’s in Information Technology from Minnesota State University, Mankato, in December 2024, I’ve leveraged that advanced education to excel as a Network Technician at Christensen Farms & Feedlots. My role involves the strategic deployment and meticulous maintenance of network infrastructure across over 264 geographically dispersed sites throughout the Midwest Region. This includes the installation of standardized network connections, switches, wireless access points, and security appliances, as well as proactive troubleshooting of system failures, identifying bottlenecks, and optimizing network performance to ensure robust and efficient operations of Christensen Farms.

The UMSA scholarship was instrumental in making my graduate studies a reality. The knowledge and skills I gained directly apply to the complex challenges I address daily, enabling me to contribute significantly to Christensen Farms & Feedlots network reliability. I am profoundly grateful to the UMSA scholarship organizers and donors for their invaluable support, which has been a catalyst for my professional growth.

Rafael Murillo III

I recently completed my Associate’s degree in Cybersecurity at Minnesota State Community and Technical College (M State – Moorhead) this past December. This program taught me valuable knowledge in key cybersecurity topics, including networking, security fundamentals, and programming languages such as Linux, Python, and CLI. One of the most rewarding experiences at M State was competing in three Collegiate Cyber Defense Competitions (CCDCs), where I also served as team captain for one year. These competitions provided me with hands-on Blue Team defense experience, giving me insight into real-world cybersecurity threats and the challenges of defending against Red Team attacks and other threat actors.

I am now pursuing a Bachelor’s in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance at Western Governors University (WGU). Choosing this program has been an incredible opportunity, as it not only helps me earn my degree but also provides a pathway to obtaining key industry certifications like CompTIA A+, Security+, and Network+ – all essential in the cybersecurity field.

Since receiving the UMSA Scholarship, I have been promoted to Data Analyst at Amazon, but this is just the beginning! I am still striving to build a career in cybersecurity. This scholarship has been a tremendous financial help, allowing me to manage my expenses and confidently focus on my education and career growth. Additionally, receiving the UMSA Scholarship in person gave me the opportunity to build valuable professional connections, which are crucial for future career opportunities—I’m even stacking up my LinkedIn!

I will always be grateful to the generous individuals who donated to this scholarship. Scholarships like this are more than just financial aid; they are investments in the future of cybersecurity. They empower students to develop the skills needed to protect businesses, individuals, and critical systems in an increasingly digital world.

To those who give, you invest in protectors, problem-solvers, and innovators. You are shaping the next generation of cybersecurity professionals; I am endlessly grateful for that. The impact of your generosity reaches beyond what you can imagine. Thank you for believing in us.

Stacy Bruch

As I continue working toward my Bachelor’s in IT Management at the University of Minnesota Crookston, I am grateful for the incredible opportunities shaping my academic and professional journey.

I am honored to serve as an Appointed Student Member of the University of Minnesota’s Senate Committee on Finance and Planning (SCFP), where I contribute to discussions on university policies and strategic planning. Additionally, my writing and artwork will be published in the upcoming Inspired Journal, and I am a guest writer for TCAN – Cleared for Takeoff, where I explore the critical link between cybersecurity and U.S. airspace security.

Receiving a scholarship has been a tremendous encouragement, allowing me to focus on my studies, leadership roles, and research without financial stress. I am deeply grateful for the support that fuels my passion for technology, cybersecurity, and innovation.

I’m forever thankful for the scholarship from UMSA, Thank you for being a part of this journey; exciting things are ahead.

Stephanie Binner

I graduated last spring with my Associates in Cyber Security from Pine Technical College and am expecting to graduate this summer from Western Governors University with my Bachelors in Cyber Security and Information Assurance.

I began working for the State of Minnesota in Information Security as a part of their Vulnerability and Risk Management Team. It has been exciting to be a part of helping different departments protect their data, applications and infrastructure that provide so much support and assistance to family and friends in our communities.

I also was able to attain my CompTIA CySA+, ITIL 4 foundation and ISC2 SSCP certifications through this last year and am currently studying for my CompTIA Data+, Cloud+ and Pentest+ Certifcations.

I am so thankful to the people that donated to the 360 scholarship program! It was a challenge with two toddlers to be able to afford the opportunity to make a career change, and this helped me provide for my family and set my focus better on studying and achieving my goals!

Rojina Neupane

Since receiving the UMSA scholarship, I’ve achieved a few milestones I’m proud of. I graduated from St. Cloud State University with a master’s degree in Information Assurance, marking a meaningful step in my academic and professional journey. I also started a new role as a Global Project Support Specialist at Abbott, where I’ve had the opportunity to dive into the world of data and experience the fulfillment of applying my skills in the healthcare technology field. This journey has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m excited to continue learning and growing in this space.

I want to sincerely thank UMSA for being a part of my journey – your support has been a powerful source of motivation and inspiration throughout my education and as I continue to grow in my professional career.

Zayne Horak

Since receiving the UMSA Scholarship in 2024, it provided crucial financial support that allowed me to focus on my studies and achieve financial stability while in College .

I previously interned as an Identity and Access Management Intern at Blattner Company, and now after graduateing with my degree I am now working as an Associate Reliability Engineer at Blattner Company, focusing on SRE/DevOps tasks within the IT department.

I appreciate the support I received from UMSA, and I’m grateful for how it has helped me in my educational journey and my lifelong career.

If you’d like to help support the program, please make a donation here! Thank you.