Whatcom’s Bachelor of Applied Science in IT Networking - Cybersecurity student Charles Danner shares his experience of returning to college, his incredible scholarship opportunity, and his future plans.
Charles had three distinct reasons for choosing Whatcom Community College: cost, location, and the IT Networking - Cybersecurity program.
He fell in love with the town of Bellingham after moving here in 2015 from Boise, Idaho to attend Western Washington University’s Economics program. Charles said, “It has a small-town feel with strong amenities, decent public transit, multiple educational options, and it is surrounded by nature. What’s not to love? The fact that I live just a 10-minute bike ride from the WCC campus doesn’t hurt either.”
Charles stopped attending WWU in 2018 when his finances became too tight. He later found out about WCC through some friends who were transfer students from Whatcom. They spoke highly of the College, recommending it as a great pathway for freshmen to get their AA degree at Whatcom before transferring to Western or another college. He also met students who had completed the Running Start program at Whatcom, who also gave glowing reviews. WCC became Charles’ obvious choice, and he started the Cybersecurity program in 2023 after working in a customer service job that tasked him with increasing efficiency, which rekindled his passion for computers.
Affordability was a top priority for Charles when selecting a college. He chose WCC due to the accessible tuition and the return on investment. He had attended three other universities and colleges, accumulating substantial student debt along the way without receiving the outcomes he desired. He was wary about taking on additional student debt and was keenly aware that his financial aid was close to being exhausted. Charles was looking for an option that could help him meet his educational goals without adding to his financial burden. WCC was the cost-effective choice without sacrificing quality of education.
Charles graduated with his AAS-T in Cybersecurity in spring 2025, a program which prepares students to transfer to a four-year university or to continue onto WCC’s IT Networking and Cybersecurity Bachelor’s program. He chose to stay at WCC and said it was due in large part to all the support he received from the College’s academic community.
Charles was awarded the prestigious Cyber Service Academy (CSA) scholarship to seek his degree. He feels incredibly fortunate to be a Department of Defense (DoD) CSA Scholar. Each CSA scholar is sponsored by a specific agency, with Charles being sponsored by the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) in Keyport, WA. They cover his tuition, books, supplies, and provide a $25,000 stipend for living expenses. For every year they finance, he will work one year for that agency.
Charles’ career goal is to work on Industrial Control Systems (ICS), which are networks of sensors and controllers used in factories and critical infrastructure such as electrical grids, water and sewer systems, communications, and oil/gas pipelines. “While working at NUWC,” Charles explained, “I’ll have the opportunity to support ICS systems used in undersea equipment testing. From there, I can either move into other Department of Defense agencies that protect critical infrastructure or continue working in naval network defense.” His future goals also include seeking a master’s program in Cybersecurity, though he is still undecided about which school to attend.
Outside of the classroom Charles works as a Computer Information Systems (CIS) lab aide in Baker Hall through the work-study program. Giving back to the campus community is also important for Charles. In the upcoming academic year, he will be working with WCC’s Cybersecurity Club, and Women in Cyber Security (WiCyS) to create, train, and support teams for competitions like GenCyber and the Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition.
When sharing about his journey at Whatcom, Charles said, “being at Whatcom has been an amazing experience. Classes here include a mix of traditional college students, older students, veterans, and high schoolers in Running Start. The services I regularly use are the open labs for CIS students in Baker Hall, the Orca Food Pantry, the Writing Center, and the academic advisors who helped me create a roadmap for success.”
He went on to express, “My academic advisors and financial aid staff were the backbone of my associate degree. They helped me plan out my two-year course schedule and apply for aid through both FAFSA and the Whatcom Community College Foundation scholarships. Professors Mike Rouse, Christy Saunders, Chris Pasquini, and Stephen Rose were all instrumental to my success and are driving forces in the cybersecurity program”
His best advice for students at Whatcom, “be active in the campus community and, if possible, attend classes in person. I had a cohort of about a dozen classmates on the same graduation path, and we shared many classes. We supported and encouraged one another, which was crucial to my success. Don’t be afraid to talk to your teachers.”
