Cyber Florida is thrilled to announce the return of Florida’s first-ever statewide high school cybersecurity competition: CyberLaunch! The CyberLaunch program aims to introduce high school students to the universe of cybersecurity careers through the fun of a statewide competition. The program includes resources for teachers and students who are new to cybersecurity, including classroom activities that provide a sneak peek of the competition platform for practice! Through this endeavor, we hope to build interest in cybersecurity careers, awareness of cybersecurity best practices, and help connect the cybersecurity industry in Florida with local school districts.
How It Will Work
- September 2024: A school faculty/staff advisor signs up using the Reservation Form (below).
- Fall 2024/Winter 2025: Cyber Florida’s Operation K12 Program provides free resources to help faculty and students prepare.
- April 4, 2025: Registered schools attend the state championship event at the Caribe Royale in Orlando! This event will be a one-day conference for students and their faculty advisors, including speakers and so much more!
Check out highlights from CyberLaunch 2024!
ELIGIBILITY + GUIDELINES
- Any high school (grades 9-12) in Florida may participate, public or private. There is no cost for participation; however, you MUST RESERVE YOUR PLACE in advance.
- Each school must designate at least one faculty/staff representation to help manage participation for their school (via the Reservation Form).
- Each school may bring no more than 12 students and 2 teachers/chaperones (unless district requirements specify otherwise). Spots for this event are limited and will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Schools may apply for travel grants to cover the cost of travel to the event in Orlando. Travel grants are available for public schools only, including charter schools. Private schools are not eligible for travel grants. A limited number of no-cost hotel rooms will be available to accommodate schools traveling more than three hours and may be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack will be provided onsite during the event on April 4. No additional meals will be provided.
- This year’s event will feature three competition tracks: beginner, intermediate, and experienced.
Important Deadlines
This event involves dozens of schools and hundreds of students. Coordinating it takes considerable expense and effort, and space is limited. To ensure fairness to all, we will be strictly adhering to the following deadlines:
- February 10, 2025
- Deadline to register and request travel/accommodation assistance: Subject to change if space fills prior to deadline. Reserve your spot early!
- March 3, 2025 by 5:00pm EST
- Deadline for penalty-free cancellation: Schools that cancel after this date will be prohibited from participating in 2026. Failure to attend without prior notice of cancelation will result in a two-year prohibition.
- Deadline for team changes (names, spellings, etc.)
- Deadline to submit Travel Request Form: Failure to submit a Travel Request Form will result in denied reimbursement.
- April 21, 2025
- Deadline to submit travel reimbursement receipts: Schools seeking reimbursement MUST have already submitted a Travel Request Form by the above deadline and received approval.
RESERVATION FORM
CyberLaunch 2025 is almost FULL! We have just a few school spots remaining. Please email us at opk12@cyberflorida.org to reserve one of the last spots. Once all spaces are reserved, we will start a wait list in case of any cancellations.
EVENT SPONSORS
CyberLaunch provides access for hundreds of high school students throughout Florida to explore the potential of a career in cybersecurity—many of whom would not otherwise get the chance. Your support helps Cyber Florida at USF to cover the costs of food, transportation, and overnight accommodations as needed to ensure that ANY public high school student in the state of Florida can participate, regardless of their circumstances. Your support will help hundreds of students to take the first step toward a brighter future in a high-demand field!
NOTE: For all sponsorship levels, if you prefer to be invoiced (check payment), please email us at events@cyberflorida.org.
Universe Sponsor: $10,000
- Opportunity to provide welcome remarks (up to 5 minutes)
- Logo on conference bags
- Logo recognition on all event collateral, including day-of signage
- Logo recognition on website
- Social media posts thanking the company for their sponsorship, one pre-event and one day-of
- Opportunity to include giveaway item in conference bags
- Logo on conference t-shirt
Solar System Sponsor: $7,500
- Recognition from the podium during opening remarks
- Logo recognition on all event collateral, including day-of signage
- Logo recognition on website
- Social media posts thanking the company for their sponsorship, one pre-event and one day-of
- Opportunity to include giveaway item in conference bags
- Logo on conference t-shirt
Orbit Sponsor: $5,000
- Logo recognition on all event collateral, including day-of signage
- Recognition on website
- Social media posts thanking the company for their sponsorship, one pre-event and one day-of
- Opportunity to include giveaway item in conference bags
- Logo on conference t-shirt
Liftoff Sponsor: $2,500
- Logo recognition on all event collateral, including day-of signage
- Recognition on website
- Social media posts thanking the company for their sponsorship, one pre-event and one day-of
- Opportunity to include giveaway item in conference bags
- Logo on conference t-shirt
Launchpad Sponsor: $1,000
- Logo recognition on all event collateral, including day-of signage
- Recognition on website
- Pre-event social media post thanking the company for their sponsorship
- Opportunity to provide a branded item for conference bags
Sponsorships may be paid via credit card or invoice (check). Sponsorships are not confirmed until payment is received and a signed sponsor contract is submitted. All sponsors will have the option for a free exhibit table if desired, but we request that tables focus on cybersecurity careers, training, and education for the benefit of student competitors and teachers. If you have questions or would like to discuss a custom sponsorship, please contact us at events@cyberflorida.org. Thank you!
For all sponsorship levels, please note the following: Pursuant to IRS guidelines, support is defined as a “Qualified Sponsorship”, which means no endorsement of your business, qualitative or comparative language, price information or indication of savings or value can be included in written words or in program remarks. In essence, your organization can be acknowledged through the simple use of your name, logo and location, but no message that promotes or markets and trade or business, or any service, facility or product is permissible.
FLORIDA: SC No. 59-0879015 A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE, WITHIN THE STATE, 1-800-HELP-FLA OR VIA THE INTERNET AT WWW.800HELPFLA.COM.
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