The bank is partnering with Girl Scouts of Western Ohio to provide hands-on training at its Cyber Defense Center.

Girl Scouts of Western Ohio announced today that it will partner with U.S. Bank to deliver cybersecurity programming to girls in Western Ohio.

Programs will be based at the U.S. Bank Cyber Defense Center in Cincinnati, where the top U.S. Bank cybersecurity teams will lead girls in hands-on activities aimed at helping them earn the new Girl Scout badges in Cybersecurity that rolled out in July 2018.

The first phase of a three-phase rollout process will target girls in grades 4-6 who will learn age-appropriate online safety and privacy principles, information on how the internet works, and how to spot and investigate cybercrime. Phases two and three will include a virtual learning experience and target K – 12 girls.

“Girl Scouts has the largest pipeline of future female leaders available, and no place is this more important than in STEM fields,” said Roni Luckenbill, CEO of Girl Scouts of Western Ohio. “By working with companies like U.S. Bank that understand the importance of investing in all girls, we can fundamentally change the STEM pipeline and the future of its workforce. Girl Scouts is the only organization for girls with the expertise and reach to help pave the way for any young girl to break barriers and achieve any dream she may imagine. For thousands of girls in Greater Cincinnati alone, this means excelling in STEM – and I’m incredibly proud that the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio and U. S. Bank are partnering to help make that dream a reality.”

Girl Scouts’ commitment to encouraging girls to discover and excel in STEM fields has yielded real results: Girl Scouts are almost twice as likely as non-Girl Scouts to participate in STEM activities (60 percent versus 35 percent), and 77 percent of girls say that because of Girl Scouts, they are considering a career in technology.

“Cybersecurity is at the heart of keeping our customers and communities protected from attacks,” said Charles Banks (pictured above on left), information security manager for U.S. Bank. “In order to maintain that safety, we need smart, well-trained cybersecurity experts to lead the way. Through our Community Possible platform, we are focused on closing the gap between people and possibility in the areas of Work, Home and Play. Helping prepare young people for the workforce is at the heart of what we do and we are beyond excited to partner with the Girl Scouts to empower our next generation of cybersecurity and STEM leaders.”