Dr. Raymond Albert, professor of Computer Science at the University of Maine at Fort Kent, along with his colleagues George Markowsky (University of Maine), Joseph Szakas (University of Maine at Augusta), and JoAnne Wallingford (University of Maine at Presque Isle) are kicking-off the celebration of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month with the support of a $30,000 grant from the University of Maine System (UMS) Strategic Investment Fund.   The grant supports, among other things, the purchase of computing equipment for high school teams who will be preparing for, and participating in, the first-ever statewide cyber defense competition for high school students to be held in March 2010.  A key element of the project is raising high school students’ awareness and interest in the UMS’ science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs through cyber defense competitions.