ConnectSecure invests in USF’s cybersecurity apprenticeship program
ConnectSecure invests in USF’s cybersecurity apprenticeship program
Publish Date: 2026-03-13 13:43:00
Source Domain: www.usf.edu
Tampa-based cybersecurity company ConnectSecure has announced a $100,000 gift to expand
the Cyber Florida Security Operations Center Apprenticeship Program (SOCAP) at USF.
During the CyberBay 2026 Summit, Cyber Florida Senior Director Ernie Ferraresso invited
USF President Moez Limayem and a group of students to the stage to accept the check.
“ConnectSecure’s generous donation to expand Cyber Florida’s SOCAP program by five
seats means more USF students will graduate with hands-on, real-world cybersecurity
experience that strengthens their resumes and makes them highly sought-after by employers,”
said Ferraresso.
USF’s SOCAP is a paid internship program that trains students to detect and respond
to real cyber threats. Participants work inside the Cyber Florida Security Operations
Center — a student-operated center that augments cybersecurity services for USF and
other public-sector organizations. The students help protect these organizations from
cyberattacks and assist with security investigations.
Tim Kircher, who is a senior in the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity
and Computing, serves as a security analyst for Cyber Florida at USF. He focuses on
triaging security alerts and providing detailed recommendations to USF IT department
to help protect the university’s infrastructure and network.
“This program has been instrumental in my development as a cybersecurity professional
and has equipped me with the tools I need to succeed in the future,” Kircher said.
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