“Breathtaking.”
That's how Tharptown High School sophomore Annslee Bottoms described her experience of meeting Gov. Kay Ivey at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.
Bottoms spent most of the day Tuesday at the invitation of the governor after Ivey watched a video recorded by Bottoms that detailed her experience of participating in the first Cyber Camp in July.
The Cyber Camp is a program developed jointly by Cyber Huntsville, the University of Alabama in Huntsville and the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. Teachers from across Alabama took part in the camp this summer and were then asked to nominate a student from their school system to participate in a trial camp. Tharptown robotics teacher Marsha Inmon nominated Bottoms and she was selected to represent Franklin County Schools.
“Mrs. Inmon is great. We've only had robotics at our school three years. I was hopping on that train as soon as it came to Tharptown,” Bottoms said. “This is the first year I've had her as a teacher. I always knew her as the robotics mentor. I love our relationship and appreciate how much she's helped me. She's done a lot for me.”
Bottoms was front and center on stage Tuesday when Ivey announced a $10 million economic development grant that will help establish the cyber camp and allow expansion of classrooms and simulation space at the Space and Rocket Center.
“It was breathtaking to be surrounded by all these leaders and important people, not just to Alabama but across the nation. It showed me what I can aspire to be and what I want to be,” Bottoms said.
Camp participants learn about cyber ethics, file protections and cryptography. At the end of the week, students broke into teams of four and put what they learned into action in the Cyber Patriot Competition. Bottoms' team took first place.
“What we learned all week led up to Friday,” Bottoms said. “We took part in a competition called 'Defend the Flag,' where we had to strengthen the computer against cyber security threats and attacks. “We went into the computer and beefed up the security, added a firewall and antivirus program. We changed the passwords, made sure only the administrators had administrative rights and made sure there was no malware.”
Bottoms came away from the Cyber Camp experience with a newfound appreciation of the importance of cyber security and how it affects everyone.
“That's what makes it so important. It's such an integral part of life. Most everyone has a computer in their pocket right now with their cell phone. It's so integrated we don't realize how important it is to defend and the camp taught me that and the value of that security,” Bottoms said.
Bottoms was accompanied by THS Principal Barry Laster, Inmon and her mother Cinda Gilbert.
“We're extremely proud of Annslee, what she accomplished and how she represents Tharptown High School,” Laster said. “And Gov. Ivey was so impressed she asked wanted to meet her after watching Annslee's recorded interview.”
Before the camp, Bottoms was leaning toward a career in the medical field but that could change based on what she learned.
“I always knew I wanted to go into a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) career. After camp, it opened so many doors that it's really made me consider if I should go into this. It was life-changing,” Bottoms said.
Bottoms' dedication during the camp caught the eye of Cyber Camp officials, who awarded her the Right Stuff Award, the camp's top individual honor.
When she's not dining with the governor, Bottoms takes part at THS in a myriad of activities. She's a member of the volleyball and basketball teams, student government, class president, Spanish Club, Pi Club (math tutoring), the History Honor Society and FBLA, where she finished second in Alabama last year for public speaking.
Ivey echoed Bottoms' thoughts about the importance of cyber security and technological education for students when she announced the $10 million grant.
“Today is a great day for Huntsville, north Alabama and indeed the great state of Alabama. In order to have a workplace that is prepared for the 21st century and can field jobs for the 21st century, we must train our students in technology,” Ivey said.
