UKG lifts up DSU students' cyber efforts
March 31, 2025
Through a generous donation from Ultimate Kronos Group (UKG), Dakota State University has awarded five students with $1,000 scholarships.
The students are all active with the outreach program CybHER®, whose mission is to empower, motivate, educate, and change the perception of girls and women in cybersecurity.
“These students are making a lasting impact on both boys and girls through CybHER, helping to shape the future of cybersecurity,” said Dr. Ashley Podhradsky, vice president for Research & Economic Development at DSU. She is a co-founder of CybHER.
This scholarship program is part of the FIRE UP Employee Resource Group (ERG) at UKG, which seeks to cultivate an inclusive and supportive community of change through the power of growth, allyship, and networking to advance equity for all women.
“March is our tenth year of existence as an ERG at UKG and as part of this focus, the FIRE UP leadership team wanted to leverage the voices of the global community helping lift our next generation of female leaders in science, business and technology,” said Shannon Dougherty, product support manager at UKG and Co-Chair of FIRE UP ERG.
“Investing in our next generation is crucial for creating an equitable and prosperous future. Whether it is through education, technology, or social initiatives, each step we take forward together can have a significant impact on what our tomorrow will be,” she added.
The students were surprised by this new scholarship opportunity, but all expressed appreciation for the helpful support.
Recipients included: Bella Maxwell (cyber operations major), Catherine Hoier (computer science), Mikaila Fluth (computer science and cyber operations double major), Paige Phinney (cyber operations), and Joelle Malacko (computer information systems).