Native American students' summer of cyber

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) -- South Dakota Native American high school students are wrapping up a two-week summer camp focusing on science, technology, engineering and math.

They've been learning about careers that await them in both the public and private sectors.

Some of the students have to overcome challenges in internet access in order to pursue their passions involving computers.

These summer campers are learning about what it takes to become a professional cyber sleuth dedicated to protecting computer systems from hackers and other bad actors.

"So we need people who understand cryptography, we need people who understand how all the networks connect together," South Dakota Fusion Center cyber intel analyst Katie Shuck said.

This IT camp, run by Dakota State University and Oglala Lakota College, is a way of recruiting Native American students to enroll in cyber fields once they graduate high school.

"If the students come to one of those institutions, that's a big win. If they go anywhere and study in a STEM field of any kind, that's still a win," Pete Hoesing, DSU Associate VP for Research & Economic Development said.