NetApp has announced a funding grant for Per Scholas to expand cybersecurity training programs utilizing artificial intelligence tools, alongside honoring the NFL with a customer social impact award at the upcoming NetApp INSIGHT 2026 conference.
NetApp Funding Grant Powers Per Scholas Cybersecurity and AI Training
NetApp announced a new corporate grant aimed at bolstering technical education through workforce development organization Per Scholas. The financial support targets free training opportunities specifically for individuals from historically underrepresented communities, equipping learners with foundational cybersecurity skills intertwined with practical AI tool applications. Founded in 1995, Per Scholas operates 25 campuses alongside remote learning initiatives, having served upwards of 35,000 professionals across its history.
Per Scholas President Caitlin Brazil stated that the partnership equips students with essential technical capabilities, professional judgment, and confidence to launch careers in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
NFL Recognized for Inspire Change Initiative at INSIGHT 2026
Alongside the educational grant announcement, NetApp confirmed it will present the NFL with a customer social impact award during the NetApp INSIGHT 2026 customer conference. The honor recognizes the league’s ongoing community work through its Inspire Change initiative, which has collaborated with Per Scholas since 2020.
Anna Isaacson, the NFL's senior vice president of social responsibility, noted that the Inspire Change framework allows the league to use its widespread platform to eliminate systemic barriers and generate meaningful local opportunities nationwide. Since its inception in 2017, the NFL initiative has directed $300 million toward more than 40 national grant partners and over 600 grassroots organizations focusing on education, economic advancement, police-community relations, and criminal justice reform.
NetApp Social Impact Awards Highlight Digital Equity
The upcoming presentation at NetApp INSIGHT 2026 highlights corporate technology initiatives centered on expanding access to digital learning. NetApp’s formal social impact awards program features a dedicated Data and AI Empowerment category, which formally recognizes institutions bridging technological gaps and broadening professional access in emerging fields.
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