ConnectSecure invests in USF’s cybersecurity apprenticeship program

Tampa-based cybersecurity company ConnectSecure has announced a $100,000 gift to expand the Cyber Florida Security Operations Center Apprenticeship Program (SOCAP) at USF.

During the CyberBay 2026 Summit, Cyber Florida Senior Director Ernie Ferraresso invited USF President Moez Limayem and a group of students to the stage to accept the check.

"ConnectSecure's generous donation to expand Cyber Florida's SOCAP program by five seats means more USF students will graduate with hands-on, real-world cybersecurity experience that strengthens their resumes and makes them highly sought-after by employers," said Ferraresso.

USF's SOCAP is a paid internship program that trains students to detect and respond to real cyber threats. Participants work inside the Cyber Florida Security Operations Center - a student-operated center that augments cybersecurity services for USF and other public-sector organizations. The students help protect these organizations from cyberattacks and assist with security investigations.

Tim Kircher, who is a senior in the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing, serves as a security analyst for Cyber Florida at USF. He focuses on triaging security alerts and providing detailed recommendations to USF IT department to help protect the university's infrastructure and network.

"This program has been instrumental in my development as a cybersecurity professional and has equipped me with the tools I need to succeed in the future," Kircher said. "This program teaches conversational cybersecurity, a skill that enables individuals to speak with people across various sectors about topics within cybersecurity. Being able to merge communication with technical skills is essential in an industry where technology and automation are growing at an exponential rate."

ConnectSecure empowers IT professionals with tools to safeguard their business-critical systems and data from vulnerabilities and exploits. The company's CEO, Peter Bellini, spoke at the conference, sharing the story of how the company began, how it grew and the role USF plays in its continued success thanks to the Bulls on the ConnectSecure team.

"That's what this conference is all about, bringing together businesses, schools and the government to help solve this great problem with cybersecurity," he said, adding that the company was getting ready to hire several more USF graduates. "This is just another example of CyberBay's power."