MMA Cadets Earn Advanced AI Cybersecurity Scholarships, January 2026

In January 2026, Missouri Military Academy (MMA) Cadets Eric Shellabarger and Sean Mumm were awarded scholarships to continue their advanced artificial intelligence and cybersecurity education through the AI Cyber RMF & Defense: Risk Management and Cyber Defense Implementation program. These scholarships and education combine with the fall 2025 GenAI scholarships through a national partnership with the U.S. Army Cadet Command (JROTC), Fusion Cyber, and Florida International University’s Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy. 

Each scholarship is valued at $14,000 and recognizes cadets’ academic performance and commitment to cybersecurity studies. Combined with their earlier GenAI awards, Shellabarger and Mumm have now received a total of $58,000 in scholarships this academic year. The program is offered by the same providers that supported MMA cadets during the GenAI scholarship program in fall 2025, with instruction beginning January 12, providing hands-on, professional training while they are in high school.

"I am excited to take the AI course to better myself in the future of AI," says Shellabarger, a high school junior from Mexico, Missouri, expressing gratitude for the funding support and the cyber career training he is receiving this year. "After high school (graduation from MMA), I plan to pursue my chosen career using the knowledge that I gain along the way."

Also a high school junior from Mexico, Missouri, Mumm also plans to apply the knowledge gained from these educational experiences to build his expertise and earn certificates for a career in AI.

Their selection for these follow-on scholarships reflects continued success in MMA’s AJROTC Cyber Program, which prepares cadets with industry-recognized certifications and foundational skills in information technology and cybersecurity.

The AI Cyber RMF & Defense program focuses on cybersecurity risk management and defensive practices within technology-driven environments. The course emphasizes understanding cyber risk, applying structured risk management processes, and developing skills relevant to cyber defense and security implementation.

Through these scholarships, MMA cadets gain early exposure to advanced cyber and AI concepts while completing their high school education, positioning them for future academic pursuits and leadership roles in technology-focused fields.