Nash Community College is celebrating significant progress as it concludes the second year of its National Science Foundation (NSF) grant aimed at expanding cybersecurity education, increasing access to industry-recognized certifications and preparing students for careers in the rapidly evolving information technology workforce.
The grant supports the college’s Nighthawk Cyber Alliance (NCA), an initiative designed to strengthen cybersecurity awareness and workforce readiness across academic programs while reducing barriers for students pursuing information technology credentials.
As the college enters the third year of the grant, students are already seeing measurable benefits through expanded certification opportunities, new cybersecurity curriculum and enhanced workforce preparation.
One of the primary goals of the grant is to reduce barriers to obtaining industry-recognized certifications by covering testing costs and establishing NCC as an authorized testing center.
During the 2025-26 academic year, the college hosted four certification test fests, allowing students to earn credentials at no cost. As a result, students earned 41 industry certifications, including:
- Information Technology Specialist certifications
- Cisco Certified Support Technician certifications
- CompTIA A+ certification
- CompTIA Security+ certification
- CompTIA Network+ certification
“These certifications provide students with valuable credentials that demonstrate their knowledge and skills to employers,” said Dr. Lew K. Hunnicutt, president of NCC. “The NSF grant is helping remove financial barriers while creating opportunities for students to graduate with both academic credentials and industry-recognized certifications that strengthen their career prospects.”
The grant has also supported the development of embedded cybersecurity instructional modules within six Information Technology courses. Students who complete the modules can earn a Cyber Safety Badge in addition to their associate degree.
In May 2026, two students became graduates of the program to earn the Cyber Safety Badge alongside their Information Technology degree, marking a major milestone less than one year after the initiative launched in Fall 2025.
The impact of the grant extends beyond the Information Technology program.
Students in Office Management and Medical Office Administration courses have already engaged with cybersecurity lessons as part of their academic coursework. Additionally, faculty partnerships have expanded cyber safety education into other disciplines, including:
- Graphic Design
- Early Childhood Education
- Criminal Justice
- Medical Office Administration
- Advanced Manufacturing Technology
Several of these programs launched discipline-specific cyber safety modules during Spring 2026, with additional implementation planned throughout Fall 2026.
“Our goal has always been to make cybersecurity education accessible and meaningful across all academic disciplines,” said Nakisha Floyd, department chair of business and information technologies at NCC. “Whether a student is pursuing a career in information technology, healthcare, manufacturing, education or business, cyber awareness is an essential workforce skill.”
Students have already experienced firsthand the value of the grant-supported certification opportunities.
“ I’m so excited that I took advantage of the opportunity afforded to me by Nash Community College to earn my certification in Artificial Intelligence. One of several certifications I plan to earn,” said Shonika Warren. “This certification not only shows my competence of AI in a business sense, but it will also aid me in proving my competency to potential employers. I aspire to fill a role in the tech industry that allows me to be versatile, and I’m confident my certification(s) will allow me to do so.”
Student Amanda Thigpen echoed the impact of the initiative.
“I’d like to thank Nash Community College for providing such valuable opportunities for education and career growth. The IT program has done an excellent job, particularly by offering free IT certifications — without this, I wouldn’t have been able to earn my current certifications due to the out-of-pocket costs. I plan to continue taking advantage of this to build my portfolio. Having NCC serve as a testing center is a bonus, cutting down on commuting costs especially with rising gas prices.
The NSF grant continues to support NCC’s broader commitment to workforce development, student success and innovation in technology education. As Year 3 begins, college leaders anticipate continued expansion of cybersecurity learning opportunities and additional pathways for students to earn credentials that meet the needs of employers across the region and beyond.
For more information about the Information Technology program and the NCA, contact Nakisha Floyd at 252-451-8299 or email nwfloyd583@nashcc.edu.
