At Layer 8 Security, we believe cybersecurity is both a technical challenge and a human one, and that starts with investing in the people who will defend our digital future.
At Layer 8 Security, keeping businesses in business is our mission. We believe that defending our digital future requires more than cutting-edge technology, it requires talented, dedicated professionals ready to serve and protect in an increasingly complex threat landscape.
The cybersecurity industry faces a critical challenge: the demand for qualified information security professionals far exceeds the available workforce. This shortage is especially acute in the Greater Philadelphia area, where growing businesses need skilled defenders to protect their critical digital assets.
To help address this gap, Layer 8 Security CEO Jeffrey Lipson has endowed the Jeffrey P. Lipson Master of Science Scholarship in Information Science at Penn State Great Valley, providing $2,500 annually to students pursuing their master’s degree in information science.
This endowed scholarship builds on the already established Layer 8 Security Scholarship in Information Science, established in 2021-22 academic year, which provides $2,500 per year.
Why Penn State Great Valley?
Jeffrey Lipson’s connection to Penn State Great Valley runs deep. Early in his career, after serving his first tour of six years of active duty in the Marine Corps, Lipson earned his master of science in Information Science from the campus—an experience he describes as “life-changing.”
The multidisciplinary nature of his Penn State education directly contributed to his later success on active duty and in the private sector, including creating cybersecurity units for the Marine Corps Forces Reserve—work for which he was awarded the prestigious Legion of Merit before retiring from the Marines as a Colonel.
Penn State Great Valley’s information science program has consistently produced graduates who are ready to tackle cybersecurity challenges, making it the ideal partner for this investment in the future workforce.
Supporting Those Who Serve
The scholarship prioritizes active military service members and veterans, recognizing that those with military experience bring unique perspectives to the cybersecurity field.
Veterans transitioning to civilian careers often face financial barriers to completing their education. While some receive educational benefits, many can only afford one class per semester, significantly delaying their degree completion and career launch.
Jeffrey Lipson
Chief Executive Officer
This scholarship continues a family tradition of supporting education. Jeffrey’s father, David Lipson—a 1965 Penn State graduate—gave generously throughout his life to his alma mater, including a gift for a classroom building at Penn State Brandywine that he named for a former chancellor rather than himself.
David Lipson also created multiple scholarships, understanding that financial support could transform lives and create opportunities for deserving students.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Jeffrey Lipson has also been proactive in supporting educational access through the Blue and White Scholarship at Villanova, and as a member of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, which creates scholarships for the families of fallen or severely injured service members.
This endowed scholarship is designed to do more than provide immediate financial relief—it’s about creating lasting impact.
Removing financial barriers enables talented students to complete their degrees faster, enter the cybersecurity workforce sooner, and begin protecting organizations from digital threats—all while potentially inspiring the next generation of donors and defenders.
For information about the Jeffrey P. Lipson Master of Science Scholarship in Information Science and Penn State Great Valley’s master’s program in information science, visit Penn State Great Valley.
Together, we’re building the front line of cybersecurity—one scholarship, one student, one career at a time.