ESET North America Announces Winners of 2026 Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ESET, a global leader in cybersecurity, is proud to announce the winners of its eleventh annual Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship. After a rigorous selection process, six outstanding applicants from across the United States and Canada were selected for their achievements, academic excellence, and dedication to strengthening the future of cybersecurity. The recipients of this year's North American scholarships are Fiona McCrae, Isabella Zardo, and Katherine Izhikevich from the United States and Arthure Gélinas, Tsidkenu Tomori, and Sulaksa Jeevakumar from Canada.

"This program recognizes more than academic achievement by celebrating women who are dedicated to making a positive impact in the cybersecurity industry,” said Marissa Pitchford, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at ESET North America. "This year's recipients represent the very best of the next generation of cybersecurity leaders. Their technical excellence, curiosity, and commitment to mentoring others give us tremendous confidence in the future of our industry.”

Launched in 2016, ESET's Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship continues to invest in the next generation of cybersecurity professionals while helping address the industry's ongoing gender gap. In North America alone, the program has awarded over $250,000 in scholarships to 55 women, many of whom have gone on to build successful careers in cybersecurity and technology.

Given the exceptional caliber of applicants this year, ESET expanded the U.S. scholarship program to recognize three recipients, awarding a total of $25,000 USD in scholarships. In Canada, ESET awarded a total of $15,000 CAD in scholarships to three recipients. ESET will welcome the U.S. scholarship recipients to its San Diego headquarters on August 25 for a celebration of their achievements and the presentation of their scholarship checks. On August 27, ESET Canada will host its scholarship recipients at its Markham office for a celebratory brunch recognizing their achievements and contributions to the future of cybersecurity.

Meet the 2026 ESET Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship winners:

United States

Fiona McCrae, Washington, D.C.: Fiona McCrae is a cybersecurity engineer dedicated to strengthening national security by combining technical cybersecurity expertise with strategic policy. This fall, she will begin a Master's in Strategy, Cybersecurity, and Intelligence at Johns Hopkins University, building on experience supporting cyber defense, AI assurance, and national cybersecurity initiatives in the United States and Australia. Beyond her technical work, Fiona serves as President of MITRE's Women in Cybersecurity affiliate and mentors aspiring professionals through Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS).

“I plan to spend my career facilitating communication between the technical and strategic realms: developing technologies, informing practical governance, and helping sustain the community of practitioners who shape emerging technology.”

Isabella Zardo, Modesto, California: Isabella Zardo is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at California State University, Stanislaus. She has participated in undergraduate research programs such as SURE@UCLA, SERSCA, and CAHSI LREU. During these programs, she researched privacy-preserving large language models and security vulnerabilities in robotic systems. As founder and president of her university’s Cybersecurity Club, she organizes hands-on workshops, leads competitive cybersecurity teams, and expands access to practical cybersecurity education by hosting local Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions. She is also the founder and president of her university’s Girls Who Code College Loops chapter, where she established a mentorship program for high school students and represents women in technology as a professional speaker at local tech events. She plans to earn a Ph.D. and pursue a career developing secure AI and robotic systems.

"The ESET Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship represents an opportunity to build on this foundation by joining a community that actively supports women pursuing careers in cybersecurity and empowers them to become leaders in the field."

Katherine Izhikevich, San Diego, California: Katherine Izhikevich is pursuing a Ph.D. in Computer Science at the University of California San Diego, where she researches cybersecurity solutions that help defenders better understand and respond to cyber threats. Her work focuses on developing transparent security systems that improve network defense while helping organizations navigate emerging AI-driven risks. She also reviews research for leading security conferences, works with organizations across San Diego to strengthen cyber resilience and mentors students entering cybersecurity.

"AI will introduce new risks, but it also provides defenders with powerful capabilities. My goal is to ensure AI capabilities are deployed responsibly: with inclusivity, transparency, and a commitment to protecting the people behind the systems."

Canada

Arthure Gélinas, Montréal, Québec: Arthure Gélinas is pursuing a degree in Computer Science and Software Engineering at the Université du Québec à Montréal, where she discovered a passion for cybersecurity through capture-the-flag competitions. Through internships at Calcul Québec, Flare, and Desjardins, she has built experience investigating threats, securing networks and supporting security operations. She also champions greater inclusion in cybersecurity, leading mentorship initiatives that encourage more women to develop technical skills and pursue careers in the field.

"Cybersecurity concerns the protection of human communities just as much as computer systems. What motivates me most is the opportunity to actively contribute to protecting society through technology."

Sulaksa Jeevakumar, Ottawa, Ontario: Sulaksa Jeevakumar is pursuing a degree in Computer Science at Carleton University. Inspired by her experience helping victims of online scams while working as a Geek Squad Technical Agent, she now researches explainable AI and disinformation while serving as a peer mentor, leading beginner cybersecurity teams, and introducing young girls to cybersecurity through STEM outreach. She hopes to develop security technologies that empower people through transparency and education.

"Cybersecurity is not only about preventing harm. It is about creating environments where people feel safe to explore, learn, and participate."

Tsidkenu Tomori, North York, Ontario: Tsidkenu Tomori is pursuing an Honours Specialization in Computer Science with a Minor in Software Engineering at Western University. Inspired by her studies in philosophy and digital ethics, she hopes to pursue a career in cybersecurity, with a particular focus on cyber ethics and the policies that guide emerging technologies. She currently serves as Co-President of Western University’s Women+ in Technology Society, where she previously served as Vice President of Marketing and Podcast Director. Through her leadership, she is passionate about fostering a more inclusive and supportive technology community.

"I believe strengthening inclusivity comes from bringing together people with a wide range of experiences and perspectives."

ESET congratulates each of this year's scholarship recipients for their outstanding accomplishments and commitment to advancing cybersecurity.

Learn more about the Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship here.

About ESET^®

ESET protects organizations, critical infrastructure, and individuals, helping them build digital resilience and confidence in an increasingly AI-driven world. With more than 35 years of cybersecurity expertise, over 25 years of AI innovation, and 11 global R&D centers, ESET develops proprietary technologies designed to protect against evolving cyber threats and secure the broader AI ecosystem. Grounded in scientific rigor and taking a preemptive approach to security, ESET delivers effortless protection that remains under expert human oversight. Headquartered in the European Union and privately owned, ESET protects millions of users and more than 500,000 organizations across 178 countries. Committed to responsible AI and customer trust, ESET protects the progress that technology enables. For more information, visit www.eset.com or follow ESET’s social media, podcasts, and blogs.

Media contact:
Jessica Beffa
jessica.beffa@eset.com
720-413-4938