he Georgia Department of Education, in partnership with the Georgia Leaders of Educational Technology (GLET), is announcing the winners of the 2025 Cybersecurity Awareness Poster Contest.

Congratulations to the following Georgia students on their first-place winning posters:

• Elementary School Category: Anaisha Taran, Sugar Hill Elementary School, Gwinnett County Public Schools

• Middle School Category: Lydia Harden, Bremen Middle School, Bremen City Schools

• High School Category: Minakshi Chilagani, Northview High School, Fulton County Schools

• AI Category: Tazzariah King, Dooly County High School, Dooly County School System

"I am proud to recognize the 2025 winners of Georgia's Cybersecurity Awareness Poster Contest and celebrate the creativity and leadership they have shown," State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. "Cybersecurity is not just a technical skill – it is an essential part of digital citizenship and career readiness in today's world. Through this partnership with the Georgia Leaders of Educational Technology, we are empowering students to think critically about online safety and to take an active role in protecting themselves and their communities. Congratulations to this year's winners, and thank you to every student who used their voice and talents to promote a safer digital future for Georgia."

GLET sponsored the poster contest, which was open to all public, private, and homeschooled Georgia students in kindergarten through twelfth grade, during Cybersecurity Month in October 2025. GaDOE received 161 eligible submissions from students across Georgia, encouraging ongoing student engagement with cybersecurity issues. The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) Georgia Chapter judges scored each poster based on creativity and visual appeal, relevance to the theme, informational content, originality and uniqueness, and overall presentation.

"We are proud of the students who participated in this year's Cybersecurity Awareness Poster Contest," GLET President Jim Farmer said. "Their work highlights both creativity and a strong understanding of the importance of online safety. Cybersecurity awareness starts with education, and we are grateful to partner with the Georgia Department of Education to help students build the knowledge and responsibility needed to navigate today's digital world safely."

All participants will receive a certificate of recognition acknowledging their effort. The top winners received additional prizes and a framed poster, fostering pride and encouraging ongoing involvement in cybersecurity awareness activities.