Mississippi Cyber Initiative Hosts 2025 Girl Scouts Cyber Challenge, Showcasing AI, Cybersecurity, and Digital Forensics
Gulfport, MS –The Mississippi Cyber Initiative (MCI) team welcomed 14 Girl Scouts from across the states to the Girl Scouts Cyber Challenge 2025, a full-day event designed to ignite interest in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and digital forensics among young women. Scouts from as far as Washington state and the Carolinas were accepted to this one week event taking place on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Held at the Mississippi Cyber Center Annex, the event featured immersive, hands-on learning experiences in STEM-C (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Computing), with a special focus on the growing fields of cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital forensics.
The challenge was made possible through collaboration with the Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi, key public safety and investigative partners, including the Gulfport Police Department Field Forensics Team, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office Internet Crimes Division. These organizations provide real-world insights and mentorship, helping scouts understand how technology is used to solve crimes, protect communities, and secure digital infrastructure.
“This event is about more than just technology - it’s about empowerment,” said Martin Rivera, MCI Technical Manager. “We were honored to be selected by the Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi to participate in this event. We’re giving these young women the chance to experience our center’s environments, tools and speak to our partnered agency professionals in key technical fields. This opportunity provides the scouts with the confidence to see themselves as future leaders in cyber and technology.”
Throughout the day, scouts rotated through interactive stations where they traced information packets, cracked codes, analyzed digital evidence, explored AI-powered tools, and learned how to protect themselves and others online. Law enforcement professionals shared real case studies through demonstrated forensic techniques and equipment used in the field.
The Girl Scouts Cyber Challenge is one of many ways MCI is supporting the development of the state and country’s future cyber workforce. We want to extend our appreciation to our partnered agency members represented by Dr. Kollin Napier of the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network, Morgan Graham and Stephanie Fehr, Gulfport Police Crime Scene Technician/Investigators, and Angela Williams, Senior Cyber Crimes Investigator with the MS Attorney General’s Office.
