Statewide Youth Broadband Advisory Council Update
 What a fantastic way to end the 2024-2025 year!
We held our final in-person SYBAC meeting at our office before heading to the Capitol Building for an amazing tour. The students received a warm welcome, met their state representatives, visited the House of Representatives and went down to the floor, where they even snapped a memorable photo at the House chair!
After the tour, they enjoyed lunch with ICN Leadership and had a great discussion about tech and the future. We then explored our BRIC, where students learned about ICN's crucial role in Iowa's infrastructure, sparking engaging discussions about our network operations.
We wrapped up the day with a visit to the Lightedge datacenter, touring the facilities and learning about their operations. This was a wonderful way to celebrate SYBAC's 10th anniversary, and we look forward to what’s next. If you would like to read more about our day, check out this article on our website.
 |
|
Have Your Students Apply Now!
We are seeking high school students in grades 10-12 to become part of our council for the 2025-2026 school year! If you know any students who are enthusiastic about technology and considering a career in the tech field, please encourage them to apply. This is a wonderful chance for them to network with industry experts, ask questions, and explore the various career paths available in Iowa.
Apply here:
|
Upcoming Events
The upcoming Security Exchange Session is just around the corner. These sessions aim to give participants crucial knowledge, helping them explore different strategies and tools. By joining in, you'll greatly enhance your understanding of cyber security, sharpen your skills, and improve your practices, all with the support of our expert Cybersecurity Architect.
 |
|
Register to attend the next
Security Exchange Session:
June 11 from 10 AM - 11 AM
Baselining A
Windows System
August 13 from 10 AM - 11 AM
Building an Enterprise Wide
Application Inventory
|
HIGHLIGHTED SERVICE
 Connect to the Cloud
Our Cloud Connect service is perfect for educational institutions, providing a direct link that ensures a safe, secure, and private network. This configuration effectively separates cloud resources from the public Internet and other users. Furthermore, our service features low latency, dedicated bandwidth, and the ability to scale according to the requirements of schools of all sizes, from kindergarten to college.
Internet2's Presidential Primary Sources Project
 The 2025 Webinar series may be over, but there's still plenty to explore!
The Internet2 PPSP program offers a fantastic collection of archived webinars that you and your students can check out as the year comes to a close. Discover insights about Lincoln's Lasting Words or dive into the American Frontier. Click the button below to visit their YouTube page and catch some of their webinars.
Iowa Communications Network (ICN) is Iowa’s only authorized Research & Education Network giving our education customers exclusive access to Internet2 services.
FREE Coding Resource for Your Class
REAL PYTHON
Turbocharge Your Python Learning with In-Depth Tutorials, Real-World Examples, and Expert Guidance.
Python may not be the newest programming language, but it's making a comeback! This website offers various learning options for all types of learners. You can watch step-by-step video tutorials, take quizzes to assess your knowledge, attend office hours for assistance, and use a "Code Mentor" feature for instant feedback and personalized learning tips. Plus, you can sign up for a free email series that delivers Python tips straight to your inbox.
What's Happening in Ed Tech?
 The Congressional App Challenge team is thrilled to welcome the new co-chairs, both of whom are deeply committed to expanding STEM accessibility and education nationwide.
The Congressional App Challenge is a nonpartisan, congressional initiative to spark student interest in coding across the U.S. The Challenge has dramatically expanded congressional discourse on computer science and coding—by 2,000%—while reaching 384 representatives who hosted a Challenge in their district last year.
In 2024 alone, the Challenge set new records, with over 12,000 students participating and more than 3,900 apps submitted from all 50 states. The Challenge’s continued growth highlights its role in bridging tech policy and STEM education, inspiring students to solve real-world problems through technology.
The Congressional App Challenge is the most prestigious prize in student computer science. Participation in the challenge has grown exponentially and has reached underserved, diverse, and rural student populations.
|
