Murray State University celebrates continued success with second Cybersecurity Analyst graduating class
By Cheryl Calvert | Aug 26, 2026
MURRAY, Ky. — The Murray State University Cyber Education and Research Center is proud to announce the graduation of the second cohort from the Cybersecurity Analyst certificate program. The graduating students received their certificates on Aug. 15. The ceremony took place in the auditorium of the Engineering and Physics Building on the Murray State campus, where family and friends gathered to celebrate their success.
The graduating class includes the following individuals: Nicholas Barham (Paducah, Kentucky), David Berlekamp (Boaz, Kentucky), Jerry Boyd (Murray, Kentucky), Defabrien Brown (Hopkinsville, Kentucky), James “Isaac” Burch (Ledbetter, Kentucky), Griffin Crump (Paducah, Kentucky), Sean Ditterline (Paducah, Kentucky), Chelsey Dumas (La Center, Kentucky), Christopher Fike (Murray, Kentucky), Dillon Hildebrant (Murray, Kentucky), John Klink (Puryear, Tennessee), James “Jeremy” Lewis (Paducah, Kentucky), Zackary Logan (Paducah, Kentucky), Samuel “Brooks” Overby (Paducah, Kentucky), Cayce Rogers (Buchanan, Tennessee), Dennis Roof (Paducah, Kentucky), Hunter Roy (Dixon, Kentucky), Austin Sutrick (Paducah, Kentucky), Dakota “Cody” Tingle (Murray, Kentucky), Trumann Walsh (Mayfield, Kentucky), Kevin Wilson (La Center, Kentucky), Eric Wimberley (Paris, Tennessee) and Parker Wooldridge (Murray, Kentucky).
The one-year, 12-credit-hour program equipped participants for success by offering targeted job placement and continuing education support. It enabled current IT and cybersecurity professionals to advance their careers while providing a clear entry point for beginners, many of whom secured full-time employment following their internships. Program participant Christopher Fike, assistant police chief at Murray State University, shared: “The Cybersecurity Analyst program has been an outstanding experience and has given me a much better understanding of today’s cybersecurity threats and the tools used to identify, investigate and respond to them. As a law enforcement administrator, the program has helped me better understand the cyber threats that impact not only higher education but also public safety agencies.”
The program, offered at no cost through grant funding to eligible participants, provides a comprehensive curriculum that covers various topics, including network configuration, threat detection, vulnerability assessment, risk management and traffic analysis. With a strong emphasis on practical, real-world scenarios, students learn to effectively identify and mitigate cyber threats, thus protecting organizations from potential breaches and data loss.
The entire curriculum aligns with industry standards, enabling students to graduate with multiple widely recognized credentials, including CompTIA A+, Network+ and Security+ certifications. This strong foundation yields tangible results: 96% of the program's 42 participants have secured employment upon completion. These outcomes reflect the high level of training provided by Murray State’s Cybersecurity and Network Management faculty, alongside the dedicated guidance of the Cyber Education and Research Center staff. For students looking to advance further, coursework applies directly toward a bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity and Network Management at Murray State, offering a seamless pathway to stack credentials and earn a four-year degree.
The Cybersecurity Analyst Certificate program launched its final cohort on Aug. 18. This program is funded by a $1.5 million grant from the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities, provided by the Employment and Training Administration within the Department of Labor, in collaboration with the Delta Regional Authority.
The incoming cohort of 24 students will complete coursework from August through May, culminating in an eight-week summer internship beginning in late May 2027. Designed to facilitate career success, the program provides eligible participants with free tuition for 12 credit hours, a paid internship, a laptop, individualized career coaching, and dedicated job placement assistance.
The Cyber Center and the Cybersecurity and Network Management program are part of the award-winning statewide Program of Distinction at Murray State. The program provides degree tracks in cybersecurity and digital forensics, industrial cybersecurity, applied artificial intelligence for cybersecurity, and cloud and systems administration. Cybersecurity and Network Management focuses on cybersecurity and network infrastructure in the rapidly growing field of technology. It is an interdisciplinary program that provides students with a solid foundation in cybersecurity technologies and their application in a business environment.
Learn more about Murray State’s Cybersecurity and Network Management program at murraystate.edu/cyber.