MARIETTA, OHIO — Shad Mace is a dedicated Cyber Security major who always goes the extra mile to expand his knowledge in the field. He constantly interacts with his classmates, reads and shares articles about IT, and improves his programming and coding skills in his free time.
When Mace looked into attending College, he was originally interested in Ohio University in Athens. However, after learning of the tuition cost and class sizes, he began to look elsewhere. This was when Mace found a much better fit for him, financially and size-wise, at WSCO.
Although he originally became interested in pursuing a career in Cyber Security after his uncle mentioned how much growth was in the field, Mace has certainly found more meaning and passion within it after learning how these skills could help people who have fallen victim to hackers. Mace has also learned that he enjoys fast-paced and high-stress environments, where every little detail matters. “This field is one where you need to be detail-oriented, as any mistake can cost people money or their private information.” Mace also believes that his background in technology has made him a successful student in his major, “I’ve always been a technological person. Always very into phones, laptops, and any technology I could get my hands on.”
Mace is a student who juggles school and a full-time job at Grimm Scientific, and he reflects on the challenges of balancing both. “Going to college and working full-time is extremely hard. I get up around 4:30-5:00 am every morning, go to work, attend school after work, come home, take care of my responsibilities there, and then it’s time for another day to do it all again.” Although this routine is tiring, he stays motivated and keeps going even on days when giving up feels tempting. “Some days, it seems like giving up would be so much easier, but I must remind myself that this will all be worth it in the end.” His ability to overcome challenges, stay organized, and stay focused shows his strong desire to succeed in school and work.
His professor Mark Riley believes that while Mace is a full-time worker outside of school, he is one of his most engaged students in the Cyber Security program. Mark feels Shad is a pleasure to have in class and admires his dedication to his school work, “I talk to Shad all the time. He is always asking questions, and putting in the extra work to refine his skills in IT. Shad’s work is also top-notch, and I always enjoy grading his work. It’s reflective of his hard work and attention to detail.”
While Mace’s current job at Grimm Scientific entails building Hydrotherapy systems, his education is already beginning to open up some other doors for him within the company. He speaks on how the company is slowly starting to move him into more of an IT position. “Before I even graduate, the education I’m earning at WSCO is already starting to help me achieve some of my career goals, as my current employer is starting to allow me to use what skills I’ve learned in my current position.”
Mace is currently set to graduate in the Spring of 2026, but by taking summer classes, he may finish as early as fall of 2025. As for his future plans, Mace dreams of working for Public Debt one day. A place where his passion for helping others can become a reality. “It may sound cheesy, but Public Debt is my dream job. I want to help people and make a difference in their lives, and this is a place I feel I could do that.”