FBI Richmond
Public Affairs Specialist Melissa J. Hipolit
(804) 261-1044
August 2, 2022

FBI Richmond Recognizes Two Southwest Virginia Schools for Consistent Participation in Cyber Challenge During 2021-2022 School Year

FBI Richmond’s Special Agent in Charge, Stanley M. Meador, has personally congratulated the principals of Floyd Elementary School in Floyd, Virginia, and Linkhorne Middle School in Lynchburg, Virginia, for having teachers and students consistently participate in the FBI’s Safe Online Surfing (FBI-SOS) Internet Challenge during the 2021-2022 school year.

As children’s connectivity to the cyber-world increases, so does the inherent risk of them connecting with potential predators or bullies. To combat this the FBI developed this free, fun, bi-lingual, educational cyber challenge for students grades 3-8 to assist in the recognition of online dangers and appropriate responses to these threats to their safety. Curriculums include grade-specific material, scavenger hunts, games, and quizzes to encourage engagement, discussion, and preparedness.

Since the inception of the FBI-SOS program in 2012, FBI Richmond has endeavored to have Virginia educators incorporate this free program into existing curriculums. By working together, these collective resources and tools may help prevent a child’s victimization within the cyber realm. During the 2021-2022 academic year alone, over 1.5 million students and 18,622 schools across the country utilized this program; including 515 schools and 35,000+ students from the Commonwealth of Virginia. The FBI-SOS Challenge will reopen for the 2022-2023 school year in September, and we challenge more Virginia schools to participate and be recognized next year. To participate, a teacher or administrator of students grades 3-8 must register their school on the website.

For questions about the FBI-SOS or any other FBI Richmond community outreach program please contact our Community Outreach Specialist via RH_Outreach@FBI.gov.

The FBI-SOS is sponsored by and managed by the FBI, is open to all public and private schools nationwide, and requires no downloads or installation.

Report cyber crimes against children to your local law enforcement, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.IC3.gov, the FBI via https://tips.fbi.gov/, or to FBI Richmond at 804-261-1044.