Each year, the Cyber Institute likes to recognize students who have won local, regional,
or international awards in various topics relating to cybersecurity.
Check out students from past years who have won the KSU Student of the Year Award
from the Cyber Institute!
KSU Student of the Year Awards
Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
2021-2022
The 2021-2022 Student of the Year is Cynthia Watson.
Cynthia Watson
Cynthia Watson graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
from Kennesaw State University on May 11th, 2022. She was on the president's list
every semester since beginning her journey at KSU. During her time at KSU, she have
learned that she enjoyed the policy and governance areas of Cybersecurity.
Cynthia completed a 9-month legislative IT auditor position for the Office of the
State Auditor in Colorado. I was also selected for a Cyber Governance, Risk & Compliance
(GRC) internship-to-hire position with MassMutual.
Cynthia has always enjoyed learning how things work, and the Cybersecurity program
was a perfect fit to pursue her curiosity in the technology field. Her experience
at KSU has led to lifelong friendships and created many positive opportunities. She
is thankful to all of her peers and the Professors that have led to her success.
Cynthia's future goals include paying it forward to help other Cybersecurity students
in their academic and career pursuits.
2020-2021
The 2020-2021 Student of the Year is Madison Loewe.
Madison Loewe Madison Loewe graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
from Kennesaw State University. She has been on the Dean’s or President’s list every
semester of her four years at KSU.
Her interest in tech began in high school when she joined the Robotics Club where
she competed in VEX. In her first semester at KSU, she found Cybersecurity and made
the decision to pursue the degree. She has also been pursuing acting and competing
in Disc Golf during her free time, coming from a long life of theater and sports.
In her down time, Madison can be found hanging out with her family, reading a book,
or learning about something new. She has enjoyed the journey that college has allowed
her to partake in and is thankful for her wonderful professors for their efforts in
helping her learn.
2019-2020
The 2019-2020 Student of the Year is Michelle Aninye.
Michelle Aninye
Michelle Aninye is a Privacy Engineer at Google. She designs technologies that are
as privacy-respectful to users as they are beneficial.
Her career in privacy started at Cisco where she developed frameworks for new privacy
regulations. She continued this work at the University of Chicago through her research
on usable security and privacy for marginalized communities. Before this, Michelle
worked on cybersecurity teams in various industries at Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and
CNN.
In addition to her industry work, Michelle teaches cybersecurity and coding classes
to grade-school students and offers individual privacy consultations.
Michelle holds a BS in cybersecurity from Kennesaw State University.
2018-2019
The 2018-2019 Student of the Year is Ruben Mocuta.
Ruben Mocuta
Ruben Mocuta began his interest in all things tech at an early age. Fortunately for
him, Kennesaw State University created a new cybersecurity program, and he was first
in line for it since it is one of his passions. After 2 years of diligent effort at
KSU, he finally earned a bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity as the first major to
be awarded that degree.
Ruben is currently a security engineer for a Fortune 50 company. He loves cybersecurity
so much that he decided to go back to school at the Georgia Institute of Technology
to pursue a Master's Degree in Cybersecurity that is focused on security policy. In
his free time, he is with his family or reading the Word of God. He is very thankful
for the journey and grants all glory to God for letting him make it this far.
He can't wait to see what lies ahead!
Master of Science in Cybersecurity
2021-2022
The 2021-2022 Masters of Cybersecurity Student of the Year is Jake Bulim.
Jake BulimJake Bulim is a Cyber Triage and Forensic Analyst at EY. He works as a part of the
cyber defense team. His career started at KSU of where he worked for Coles College
of Business while in the Information Security and Assurance Bachelor Degree program.
Jake was also president of Beta Alpha Psi at Coles College and volunteered with the
Information Systems Department. While in graduate school, he worked as a Graduate
Research Assistant for the Graduate School. He also has and continues to assist the
ICWD and the Information Systems and Security department in developing and testing
new curriculum.
In May, Jake will be three-time alumni having earned the BBA-ISA, the MS-IS, and the
MS-CYBR from Kennesaw State University.
