Northwest Alumnus Secured His Future in Cybersecurity while at Northwest
Senatobia, MS (08/26/2026) — Northwest Mississippi Community College Cybersecurity alumnus and Fayetteville native, Easton Hatch, found his future career and passion at Northwest. Although his time as a student was fraught with medical issues, Hatch found fulfillment and success at the college.
Hatch said the college met him where he was and helped him overcome the obstacles he faced during his education, including hearing issues. During his time, he found his way into the Business Office, where he talked to various ladies in the department who quickly took them under their wing. Melissa Tatum, who works in the Business Office said she felt as though they quickly became his family away from home.
"Easton's journey was not always easy," said Tatum. "When he first arrived in a new place, he was far from home and surrounded by people he didn't know. With his family seven hours away, adjusting to a new environment could have been overwhelming. As we got to know Easton and discovered how far away he was from his family, we decided that he shouldn't have to go through that experience alone. We were honored to become his 'stand-in family,' offering him encouragement, support, and a place where he could feel at home."
To the best of their ability they did just that, by encouraging him and getting to know him. They said during his time at Northwest, he transformed.
"When I first came to Northwest, I was uncertain about the direction my life would take," said Hatch. "I knew that college could either become an opportunity for me to grow or another challenge that I would have to overcome. I decided to remain adaptable, keep moving forward, and make the most of the opportunities available to me."
During his time at Northwest, he struggled with hearing due to having meningitis when he was younger that resulted in hearing loss. To help him overcome the challenges with hearing, he received cochlear implants while attending Northwest. He said that he was worried about how it might affect his education during that time.
"The support and understanding I received allowed me to continue working toward my goals while managing the medical challenges in my life," said Hatch. "My close friends also gave me the courage to move forward with the surgery. I knew the procedure carried risks, but I also understood that it could improve my quality of life and create new opportunities for me."
By the end, he had a successful surgery which allowed him to use his cochlear implant in his left ear and experience the world as he wasn't able to. As he continues, he's taking what he's learned at Northwest into his future starting with his cybersecurity business BlueKey CI. Taking what he learned in classes, he's utilizing it to transform his future. The early-stage tech startup is building a protection- led artificial intelligence utilizing an AI known as Clara.
"BlueKey CI is a cybersecurity technology company I'm building around the idea of making advanced cybersecurity intelligence easier for everyday people to access and understand," said Hatch. "Its main platform uses an AI system called Clara, which is designed to help users analyze cybersecurity concerns, recognize potential threats and scams, troubleshoot problems, and make more informed security decisions."
Looking toward the future, Hatch recently moved to Alabama where he is working toward his future goals of working in the tech field.
"For those who have had the privilege of watching Easton's journey, these accomplishments mean so much more than a list of awards and milestones," said Tatum. "They represent a young man who faced challenges, found his strength, continued moving forward, and created opportunities for himself."
For more information, go to Northwest's website, northwestms.edu.
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Photo of Easton Hatch, provided by Hatch.