My name is Savannah Vinkler, and I’m currently a senior at Kent State University, majoring in cybersecurity engineering. I’ll be graduating in May 2025, and I’ve had an incredible journey here so far involving the Honors College and the Women in Cybersecurity organization!
When I was making decisions on where I wanted to attend college, Kent State stood out to me for a couple of reasons. The main reason was the opportunities offered to me by the Honors College. Being part of the Honors College gave me access to scholarships that helped me with funding my education. This financial support made my academic journey a little easier and allowed me to focus on pursuing my passions further.
The community and resources available through the Honors College were big factors in why I felt confident about choosing Kent State.
Being an honors student here has been a very rewarding experience. One of the highlights of my time in the Honors College was participating in our Freshman Honors Colloquium. The smaller class size allowed me to connect with both my peers and professors in meaningful ways. Discussions were engaging and I felt that I could build valuable connections with my classmates compared to what I could in a larger class setting. In fact, my Honors Colloquium professor played a crucial role in my journey here! Thanks to their recommendation, I was able to start working at the Writing Commons, an on-campus resource for students to receive writing assistance. The Writing Commons became an important community for me on campus, as I have grown as a writing consultant, accepted leadership positions and represented our organization at a national conference!
I have felt like I truly belong at Kent State through the student organizations that I have joined.
My first year here, I became involved with the High-Power Rocket Team where I was able to connect with a group of passionate and driven individuals that I have learned so much from. As I progressed into my major, I wanted to dive deeper into opportunities within cybersecurity, so I helped co-found the Women in Cybersecurity organization with three other amazing women. This group has really helped me meet both personal and career goals by assisting with skill development and fostering meaningful connections with others who share similar interests. As a result of being a member, I was accepted into Tier 1 of the Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) Security Training Scholarship. This scholarship allowed me to participate in a capture-the-flag event hosted by the SANS Institute where I put my cybersecurity skills to the test. Through this opportunity, I networked with others in the cybersecurity field all over the world and further developed my skills!
Finding your place at Kent State can seem challenging at first, but my advice is to get involved early on! There are so many clubs and organizations offered here, and the best way to explore them Is during Blastoff, which takes place at the beginning of the school year as part of KSU Kickoff. This is the best event to get to know the many groups on campus and find organizations related to your major or interests that you have! These organizations can become a second family to you, offering countless opportunities for personal and professional growth.
If you are a high school student thinking about Kent State, make sure you apply for scholarships! Kent State has a lot of scholarship opportunities, and they make a huge difference in making college more affordable. Also, make sure you visit campus! I wasn’t able to tour any campuses when I was applying to colleges due to COVID, so my first time stepping foot on Kent State’s campus was after I had already committed. Even though I didn’t get that initial tour experience, I quickly realized how beautiful and welcoming the campus is, so I highly recommend touring!
Kent State has provided me with so many incredible opportunities, from the Honors College and student organizations, to building a cybersecurity community.
If you’re looking for a university where you can challenge yourself academically while finding a supportive community, Kent State is the perfect place!