Inspiring the Next Generation: Reflections from the SC Competes Cybersecurity & Maritime Mentorship Forum
Wow—what an impactful and energizing experience! SC Competes in collaboration with the Maritime Cybersecurity NSF Innovation Engine had the privilege of organizing and leading the Cybersecurity & Maritime Mentorship Forum series this March, and I’m still feeling the excitement and energy from it all.
These forums were designed with one goal in mind: to inspire students across South Carolina to see themselves in tech, maritime, and cybersecurity careers. And thanks to a remarkable group of mentors, dedicated educators, and eager students, we did exactly that.
Over the course of three days, we welcomed more than 70 students, 40 mentors, and 20 educators across three locations—North Charleston, Beaufort, and Denmark. Each forum was packed with hands-on mentorship, practical career-readiness workshops, and honest, inspiring conversations about what it takes to succeed in today’s evolving tech landscape.
Mentors didn’t just show up—they leaned in, shared stories, offered guidance, and asked how they could keep helping. Carolina’s tech talent pipeline. A mentor and moderator, Brenna Lawrence stated,
“The Maritime & Cybersecurity Mentorship Forum at Cooper River Center for Advanced Studies was incredible. The facility offers amazing opportunities for students to chart their path into careers. SC Competes put together a great program, and the women’s mentorship panel was my favorite—it highlighted how mentorship evolves and why it’s essential. As a busy, working, girl-mom, I’m so glad these conversations are happening. We need them!”
Some highlights of each event included:
- Students worked on resume building and LinkedIn best practices
- They practiced elevator pitches and learned the art of professional networking
- They heard personal stories of resilience and innovation from our keynote speakers
- Over lunch, they asked thoughtful, challenging questions that sparked dynamic panel discussions
One student, Suki, shared, “I never knew how to introduce myself in a professional environment, so the elevator pitch was a pretty amazing thing to leave with.” Another left inspired me to dive deeper into cyber forensics, realizing how many career paths exist in cybersecurity.
And the educators felt the impact too. Laura Dukes, VP of Academic Affairs at Technical College of the Lowcountry, noted:
“The forum empowered students to connect with industry leaders and gain valuable insights… It fostered a supportive community where the students felt encouraged to lead with confidence and drive innovation in the tech field.”
So to all the mentors who shared their time and heart—thank you. To the students who showed up with curiosity—keep going. And to the educators who are making room for these connections to happen—you are essential.
Lastly, thank you to our sponsors (Charleston County Economic Development, MedTech7, and IEE) and hosts (Cooper River Center for Advanced Studies, Technical College of the Lowcountry, and Voorhees) – we are lucky to be a part of such a strong and collaborating ecosystem.
Let’s keep this momentum going. South Carolina’s future depends on how well we support and inspire the next generation—and I couldn’t be prouder to be part of that effort.
— Jamie DeMent
Director, SC Tech | SC Competes
Get connected on future SC Tech projects and events by reaching out to Jamie DeMent at jdement@sccompetes.org or (843) 817-1144.