PINCKNEY, Mich. – Michigan’s Pinckney Community Schools launched the nation’s first high school-based cybersecurity institute last week, a program that will offer 22 professional certifications.

Pinckney Community High School partnered with Merit Network last summer to create the PCS Pinckney Cyber Training Institute, which opened last week to offer cyber security courses, state-approved certifications and cyber security training exercises for high schoolers, business professionals and the community, the Detroit Free Press reports.

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The new facility in Pinckney is the first cyber security “hub” located in a high school, and builds on student interest in cyber security that began two years ago when the district sent a team of students to a Cyber Patriot Competition. A second hub is also opening at Wayne State University.

“The Pinckney district drew the attention of the Department of Defense when a group of students were involved in a Cyber Patriot Competition last year,” according to the news site.

Michigan Radio reports the DoD and Michigan Economic Development Corporations contributed matching funds to help establish the Institute.

Participating students are “embarking on a potential career that could go in a lot of different directions,” Jim Darga, director of the Institute, told Michigan Radio. “Because all aspects, whether it’s business, government, military – all need cybersecurity professionals now.”

Pinckney Superintendent Rick Todd told the Free Press the Institute will build on cyber security lessons already offered by the district to provide hands-on training for students through classes and exercises.

“It also enables product development and testing for clients and has working relationships with multiple entities, including the MDEC and the Michigan National Guard,” Jennifer Tisdale, cyber security manager for the MEDC, told the news site. “There is something for everyone here.”

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Todd said the district renovated rooms, updated carpeting and walls, installed glass partitions in a 5,000 square foot area of the high school to make room for the facility. The renovations and other project costs were covered by the grants and school bond money.

“Qualified cyber security professionals ae quickly becoming some of the most sought after people in the tech sector,” said Steve Arwood, MEDC CEO. “From private industry to military and all levels of government, the demand for candidates who are certified means creating new and expanding educational opportunities like those offered at Pinckney schools help to ensure that Michigan is producing top talent.”

Joe Mayo, a senior at Pinckney Community High School, said it’s been exciting to watch the district’s progress in the cyber security field since he joined the Cyber Patriot team just a few years ago.

“I’m shocked to see the growth in this program since I started here four years ago,” he said. “It went from nothing to one of the top programs Pinckney will be known for … I am proud of my school.”