One of the investments the City makes to fortify our resources is providing mentorship to our community’s future leaders. This workforce is a dynamic commodity. Our teams have discovered that when we provide our area high-school students with the opportunity to explore real-life technologies, they possess a richer context to investigate new career paths.
Roseville Police Sergeant Christopher Ciampa discusses a technology used by first responders with the Tech Teen members.
For the past six years, the Tech Teens Leadership Academy has provided this insight to our youth. The group provides access to real-world technologies. Be it cybersecurity or crime scene analysis, the need to embrace technology is critical for our future protection.
Christopher Hardy (IT) leads this group of students along with a talented team of City volunteers. “We show them that there’s more to IT than just coding or client services,” Christopher said. “We demonstrate project management and real-world applications. The students take on a different perspective to data and technology when they have an opportunity to engage professionals directly.”
,%20or%20drone,%20used%20by%20Roseville%20fisrt%20repsonders,%202000%20x%201360%20px.jpg "An unmanned aircraft system (UAS), or drone, used by Roseville fisrt repsonders")
An unmanned aircraft system (UAS), or drone, used by Roseville first responders.
Hardy said the students are hungry for information. “We recently explored Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) two weeks ago. So we took the group into our lab where we look at crime scene analysis, fingerprints, and a lot of science-based information. At the end of the tour, the instructor asked if anyone had any questions. One student asked, “how do I become you?”
That student is Roseville High School Senior Jessica Daly. “We went into the evidence lab and what you see here is so much different than what you see on TV,” Jessica added “The real-life CSI is more of a hands-on kind of job. I like to be behind the scenes. It was interesting to be able to see everything in the lab.”
%20listens%20to%20Chris%20Hardey%20lead%20an%20activity.jpg "Jessica Daly (Center) listens to Chris Hardey lead an activity")
Roseville High School Senior Jessica Daly (Center) listens to Chris Hardy lead an activity with the group.
Jessica told the HUB that she is looking to pursue a college degree in criminal justice after she graduates. In the meantime, she is applying for an internship with the FBI Academy.
Christopher Hardy and his crew are seeing a defined return on their investment of time and effort. “It’s important that we do this today, sharing this technology; we’re making an investment on tomorrow. Everything is interconnected.”
October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The importance of this effort is to share and learn that security is a group activity. No one team or single staffer can address all the dangers we face online every day. It's up to each of us to protect ourselves, our families, and our community in cyberspace.
Each week this month, we’ve provided you with a Golden Key, a central idea to remember about online safety. Be sure to collect all four Golden Keys because next week we’ll tell you how and where to enter them into a drawing for one of two $25 Amazon gift cards.
If you have any questions about cybersecurity, please feel free to contact the IT team or visit our Cybersecurity Resources page on the HUB.