PAS CS/CIS 2017 Recipients

I began attending Highline in the Fall of 2013 right after I graduated High School. It took me a year to figure out what I wanted to do. During that time was when I heard about the CIS program. After taking introduction CIS courses, I decided to double major in AAS in Network Securitying as well as Cybersecurity Operationss. During my studies, I found both fields fascinating and eye-opening where I was able to learn so much.
My next journey started with the Bachelor’s program in Cyber Security and Digital Forensics. I thought it was awesome that I could get my Bachelors program at my local college with great an industry of experienced professors.
During my education at Highline, I have involved myself outside of class events such as the PRCCDC competition. This was the best learning experience, and I was glad to be a part of something where all the students are united through building network and scenarios for the Cyber Security competition.
I encourage everyone in CIS and CSCI to be a part of the club. You will have no regrets!
Throughout my studies, I have learned so much, such as setting up various networks and servers, running different services and applications, analyzing digital evidence, setting up cloud networks while enforcing the best security practices on the network environment.
I would like to thank all the professors, staff and students who helped me to get where I am.

I discovered that I loved the computer science when I took an online course, Harvard’s Introduction to Computer Science course: CS50. I came to Highline College as a Running Start student for its strong computer science program and over the last two years I have been exposed to Object Oriented Programming, Web Design, Databases, Game Programming and Mobile Programming. Over the next two years I will be completing my Bachelors of Science at the Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington.

As part of the Workforce Worker Retraining program, I decided to return to school to gain new tech skills, specifically in web and software development. I came across the Highline College CS/CIS website and learned about the Web Database/Developer program. I thought it would be a great fit. I was right! I’ve enjoyed every course so far and have gained an entirely new skill set that will help me successfully re-enter the workforce into a position as a Web Developer. I would not have been qualified for such a position in the past and for that I am grateful for Highline College and the many opportunities they provide their students.

I am currently employed by Washington State Department of Health as a Health Care Investigator. In this position I conduct investigations in to complaints filed against health care providers over 87 different medical professions licensed by the Department.

I am enrolled in the Cyber-security BAS Program and will be obtaining a certificate in Data Recovery Forensics in June. In the immediate future my goal is to take the skills I have learned at Highline and apply them to my current position with the Department of Heath. With the increasing popularity of storing medical records electronically and treating patients via tele-medicine, there is an increasing need for investigators to be well versed in digital evidence recovery and analysis.

Ultimately I hope to move into private practice or a larger organization where I am able to act as an analyst in both traditional hardware and network forensics.

My Path to Being a Network Security
I found my way to the Highline College CIS program when I was in 2012; I wasn’t happy with the work I had been doing, but had no other education or work experience to speak of, so my options were severely limited. It was then that I discovered the CIS program at Highline.
In just 2 years, I have learned to do things that seemed like magic to me before. I have installed and configured Mac, Windows, and Linux systems; I can build domains, web-servers, email-servers, and file-servers, just to name a few. I can construct and maintain the infrastructure that these systems communicate on, configure them to run efficiently, and secure them against those who would do harm. These are just a few of the skills I have gained while attending the program.
I want to say thank you to all the staff, my professors, and my peers; whom have been, without a doubt, the most inspirational, dependable, intelligent, passionate, caring, supportive, and all around best group of people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Highline, and its community, will always remain a home in my heart.