ST. PETERSBURG 鈥� When Cherish Alston started at the Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance in St. Petersburg, she noticed juniors and seniors were getting internships that boosted their future career opportunities. Not one to waste time, Alston set her sights on a summer internship.
鈥淲hen I entered college, one of the first things on my mind was finding an internship,鈥� said Alston. 鈥淚 was observing other students and realized that not everyone had that opportunity. I made it a goal to obtain an internship that provided me with the experience that companies wanted from a future applicant.鈥�
As a freshman, Alston achieved that goal upon becoming a business analytics intern for local tech company, .
Alston didn鈥檛 stop there. She quickly became more involved in student organizations and participated in campus events while searching for her next opportunity.
Alston speaking with Merrill Lynch representatives at a Muma College of Business Speed Networking event in February 2023
鈥淚 was surrounded by so many resources, and I thought, why not use them?鈥� Alston said. 鈥淚 found that the way to achieve my goals was by being ambitious and going after what I wanted by getting connected and joining clubs, getting different internships, and connecting myself with USF community.鈥�
By the spring of her sophomore year, Alston became a student advisory board member for the Nault Center for Entrepreneurship, secretary for the , a member of the , and a project management analyst for the .
"Like everything she does, Cherish has taken full advantage of the opportunities being a student has offered to her,鈥� said Andrew Hafer, executive director of the USF Nault Center for Entrepreneurship. 鈥淲hile some think that excelling in college is all about studying and doing well in classes, Cherish knows that it doesn't stop there. She's been a leader in so many aspects of university life. Rarely do I go to a USF activity and not see Cherish there leading the charge.鈥�
This past summer, the Business Analytics and Information Systems major interned as a partner support consultant at , where she worked with a team of USF students in their cybersecurity department.
鈥淚t was definitely a challenge, but developing new skills and platforms was easier when I was learning with a team,鈥� said Alston. 鈥淭he three other USF students who I interned with were all hard workers. Working as a team and learning together was so engaging and it motivated us to do our best work.鈥�
Since completing her internships and learning more about what the cybersecurity workforce has to offer, Alston has solidified her desire to obtain a career in the industry. She has narrowed her focus to either vulnerability management or cyber defense.
With her sights set on her future career, Alston found a scholarship opportunity through connections she has built within the USF community. would cover the rest of the cost of her education at the 91社区 Muma College of Business.
Alston鈥檚 internships, student leadership experience, and connections to the USF community lifted her confidence in applying for the scholarship.
鈥淚t was this opportunity that was perfect for someone going the cybersecurity route. I was loving what I was doing, and I thought the scholarship was a perfect opportunity for me to pursue,鈥� said Alston. 鈥淭he tradeoff was working for the government in cybersecurity鈥� something that was already on my mind.鈥�
Alston鈥檚 application was approved, and the sophomore received the CREST SFS scholarship in early 2023. The scholarship funds tuition and housing, while also providing a stipend every year for three years. The CREST SFS scholarship will fund Alston through the completion of both bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in cybersecurity.
鈥淏ecause of the scholarship, I have been given the opportunity to obtain my goals for furthering my education,鈥� said Alston.
Alston expects to graduate in fall 2024, earning her bachelor鈥檚 degree within two years of starting USF.