THE CAREER CONNECT WASHINGTON PLAN
Ensuring every student in Washington State has meaningful, hands-on career experiences and pathways toward economic self-sufficiency.
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What is a Program Builder (Intermediary)?
Career Connect Washington Program Builders (Intermediaries) grants bridge the connection between industry and educators to create and scale Career Launch, Prep, and Explore Programs in our community.
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Round 8 Program Builder Intermediaries Announced
Washington State University Tri-Cities wins two Career Connect Washington intermediary grants to build local Career Launch programs in our region
Congratulations to Washington State University Tri-Cities (WSU Tri-Cities) for being selected as a Round 8 Intermediary Grantee for TWO Career Launch learning programs! The funds will be used to develop new programs in viticulture and education.
The first grant will develop a Career Launch program called Teaching Bridge, a pathway program for high school students to attend WSU Tri-Cities and graduate with a bachelor's degree in elementary education, with a focus on English language learning or special education. Building connections with Kennewick School District's current high school program, Teaching Academy, qualified high school students will receive guaranteed admission to WSU Tri-Cities. They will participate in a career pathway that includes being hired by Kennewick School District to work in the schools as para-professionals as early as their freshman year and as full time teachers upon receiving their bachelor's degree and teaching certification.
The second grant was awarded to enhance the career connected program already offered within the viticulture and enology program at WSU Tri-Cities. The grant will provide all students in the program with industry experience from their first semester to graduation, including industry mentorship during coursework and a year-long paid internship. Currently 50 students are being targeted, but the program has the capacity to grow to 120 students.
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To learn more about Program Builder (Intermediary) funds and how to apply for future rounds, please contact The STEM Foundation or Jim Kindle, Regional Career Connected Learning Coordinator, ESD 123.
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To receive Career Connect Washington email news announcements and updates, click here.
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STEM Like ME!℠ Volunteers Making a Difference! |
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Company Spotlight: Benton PUD |
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Benton PUD employees volunteered for an entire day to present STEM Like ME!℠ Empower: Clean Energy Series programs at Horse Heaven Hills Middle School. These fantastic mentors provided insight about career pathways to public power in such creative ways, really engaging students to start thinking about the possibilities! The Benton PUD didn’t stop there. They created a fun, relatable video for the students - providing even more information about career options - and what their work means for the community! We give a special shout out to Jodi Henderson, who coordinated all of the wonderful volunteer presenters. Partnerships such as these are instrumental in successfully implementing our STEM Like ME!℠ programs, and sparking interest in the lives of young people! Thank you Benton PUD! |
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“We are grateful for the partnership and to be able to be a part of this program.” – Jodi Henderson, Manager of Communications & Governmental Relations, Benton PUD
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Individual Spotlight: Arthur Baranovskiy |
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This quarter we put the spotlight on long-term STEM Foundation volunteer and advocate, Arthur Baranovskiy!
Arthur served on the very first STEM Like ME!℠ pilot program in 2014. When Arthur shared his personal story with the Park Middle School students, he gained their undivided attention. Arthur began kindergarten in Richland, not speaking English. Many of his students related to this challenge and were deeply inspired by the fact that even from these humble beginnings, Arthur had gone on to be very successful in his studies at Delta High School, and was headed to Washington State University Tri-Cities to study engineering.
Fast forward to this spring, and Arthur has now graduated from Washington State University Tri-Cities, owns a successful engineering firm, ARY Engineering, and teaches at Columbia Basin College! And he still finds time to volunteer for A STEM Like ME!℠. In fact, one of Arthur’s STEM Like ME!℠ Design students just won this spring’s design competition. Teachers and students alike have raved about Arthur’s fun and engaging approach to presenting this program. Thank you Arthur for sharing your time and talents, inspiring students to thrive in our Mid-Columbia economy!
Arthur's Favorite Quote or Best Advice: "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't – you're right." – Henry Ford
Volunteers like Arthur are imperative to educating our future workforce about the many opportunities available – right here in their own backyard!
Click here to learn more about volunteering with The STEM Foundation.
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STEM Like ME!℠ is a suite of school-based programs, teacher grants, and professional development opportunities that broadens students’ awareness and perceptions of STEM careers and the coursework and skills necessary to pursue them.
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Below are highlights from three virtual series presented during the 2021-22 school year: |
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STEM Like ME!℠ Design continues to inspire young people through the engineering process, and the design competition brings in some amazing entries!
During the 2021-2022 school year, STEM Like ME!℠ Design was offered in both fall 2021 and spring 2022. Volunteers from Amazon, ARY Engineering, Central Plateau Cleanup Company, Hanford Mission Integration Solutions, Polestar Technical Services, United States Forest Service, and Washington River Protection Solutions introduced the engineering design process to students and inspired them to solve real world problems by thinking like an engineer!
Four local middle schools hosted the program and their students participated in the design competition. We are excited to introduce the first place winners for each of the sessions below:
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Fall Competition Winner
Congratulations Drake R.
Kiona-Benton Middle School!
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Pictured: Drake receiving his award from his teacher Ms. Farley. |
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Spring Competition Winner
Congratulations Sanah K.
Chief Joseph Middle School!
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Pictured: Sanah with her award.
Teacher Ms. Peterson
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“Weeks later, students approach me to ask what classes they should be taking to become engineers. Powerful stuff!”- Teacher at Ki-Be Middle School
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STEM Like ME!℠ Empower: Clean Energy Series piloted with outstanding results. This program provides vital insight to students about the diverse career options available in clean energy…Right here in their own backyard! Feedback from both students and teachers show the impact career connected learning can have when applied in the classroom.
“This has affected my STEM career choice because when Mark [volunteer mentor] started talking about his career, I thought this would be a great job so when I started planning this STEM project, I knew right away this is what I am supposed to be doing… so this project helped me decide what I want to be when I grow up…So thanks, Mark!” - Student at Ray Reynolds Middle School
"I can't wait to get the rest of my team involved in this! It's so rewarding." - STEM Like ME!℠ Empower volunteer
STEM Like ME!℠ Teacher Professional Development Series
In partnership with the Department of Energy and the Pasco School District, The STEM Foundation introduced “Making the Connection: From Classroom to Great Careers at Hanford." Twenty-one middle and high school teachers and counselors participated in the two-hour virtual session. Participants were taken on a video tour of the Hanford site, provided an overview of the diverse job opportunities available, and were introduced to four Hanford employees, including an engineer, an industrial hygienist, an electrician, and a communications manager. Panelists shared a brief description of their job, their personal career pathway, and the training and credentials that led them to Hanford. The interactive sessions were specifically developed to allow dialogue between educators and panelists.
We are beyond grateful to all of our teachers, inspiring volunteers and community businesses for sharing their valuable time and energy with our future workforce…students in middle school and high school.
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STEM Like ME!℠ Volunteers & Host Teachers |
STEM professionals form the nucleus of the STEM Like ME!℠ suite of student programs. By sharing the stories of their professional journeys, by showing their passion for their work and its relevance and rewards, they can inspire students to consider careers perhaps unknown or seen as unattainable.
As little as an hour of a volunteer’s time can trigger a moment in a young person’s life that can determine their future career path; so can a company by providing workplace visits, job shadowing, or internship opportunities.
If you are interested in learning more about STEM Like ME!℠ programs, including hosting or volunteering for our fall sessions, please email Heather Tibbett.
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Check out STEM Like ME!℠ in the classroom!
The videos below highlight additional programs in the suite:
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Congratulations to Samantha Miranda, Delta High School, for being selected as the 2022 Rising Star for the Mid-Columbia Network! Samantha is the acting Publicity Coordinator for Delta High School and as a member of the Delta Senate team creates and publishes weekly Senate videos that are viewed by the entire Delta community. “Samantha’s talent for graphic design and video production shines through with every weekly video she creates,” said Mike Johnson, Delta High School Principal. In addition to her role as Publicity Coordinator, Samantha is also heavily involved in the Student Ambassador Program and Key Club at Delta. Samantha will be recognized at a student award event, held in conjunction with the annual STEM Summit in November, at the Microsoft Bellevue Campus.
The Rising Star Awards highlight girls whose accomplishments are inspirational for the people who nominate them, with the hope that honoring them will inspire more girls to reach for the stars and embrace STEM! To learn more about the Washington STEM Rising Star Award and to see all the 2022 winners, click here.
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Mid-Columbia STEM Nexus Initiative
In July 2020, as part of its 90th anniversary celebration, Battelle announced a $1 million donation to The STEM Foundation to expand its STEM education outreach. Battelle manages and operates the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) for the U.S Department of Energy. The money launched the Mid-Columbia STEM Nexus Initiative to develop experiential learning programs for underrepresented and underserved students in rural communities.
In 2021, grants were awarded to five local education-focused organizations, including the Kennewick School District (KSD). KSD is the first grantee to complete their proposed project of implementing Mystery Science curriculum in 54 K-5 classrooms in the district. Congratulations Kennewick School District and thank you for making STEM education a priority in Kennewick schools!
The response from educators was overwhelmingly positive. “WE LOVE MYSTERY SCIENCE! Thank you for this opportunity to have materials at our fingertips! The engagement is high and each lesson is very interactive!" –JW, Teacher, Amon Creek Elementary
The next project to commence is the Elementary School Summer STEM Camp hosted by WSU Tri-Cities in partnership with Columbia Basin College. We are excited to see all of the wonderful career connected learning that will occur at this event in June. Details about the STEM camp and other summer STEM activities are listed below.
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Summer STEM Learning Opportunities |
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STEM Summer Camp: After a two-year COVID-induced hiatus, WSU Tri-Cities is relaunching Summer STEM Camps. The one week elementary camp will be available June 27-July 1 for students that are currently enrolled in grades three to five. This camp is part of a new partnership between WSU Tri-Cities and the STEM Nexus Initiative. Teachers from local schools will also be participating in professional development activities the week before camp to learn new and innovative strategies to teach STEM content to students and then use those best practices to instruct the summer camp program.
Richland School District Summer School - Middle School Programs: In-person summer learning for grades 6-8. Develop your inquiry, problem-solving, design and personal growth skills through coding, robotics, engineering, STEM and the arts. Adventures will take place June 21-July 21, Monday through Thursday, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
B Reactor Tours: The U.S. Department of Energy offers free public tours of the B Reactor to people of all ages and nationalities. The B Reactor National Historic Landmark is the world's first full-scale plutonium production reactor and part of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park administered by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Park Service. To sign up for a tour and learn more about the people, events, science, and engineering that led to the creation of the atomic bombs that helped bring an end to World War II.
REACH Museum: Summer STEAM series takes place 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month. Programs are FREE with general admission or a REACH membership. To see more about this series and other summer learning opportunities at the REACH, please visit their website.
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2022 Southeastern Washington Future Workforce Summit will be back in-person. |
The date for the 2022 Southeastern Washington Future Workforce Summit has been set and we are planning to bring our event back to in-person at the CBC campus!
Mark your calendar for Tuesday, November 15, 2022 to be part of the conversation as we explore developing, recruiting, and retaining our future local workforce.
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Ongoing Career Connected Learning Resources
CCW Career Connected Learning Directory: A statewide three-pronged tool designed to guide young people toward a job or career. EXPLORE are resources and events that provide early exposure to new jobs and industries. PREP is hands-on experience with a particular business, career track or industry. LAUNCH combines meaningful, high-quality on-the-job paid experiences that align with classroom learning.
CareerExploreNW: A community tool designed to guide people toward a job or career as well as help region employers create a talent pipeline.
Washington Workforce Portal: Free searchable database of available internships in Washington. Students can create a free account, plug in their resume, and immediately start searching and applying! Employers can post internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing and mentorship opportunities.
Washington Career Bridge: The popular, public-facing career and education portal created and managed by the Workforce Board also features new videos on hundreds of careers courtesy of the U.S. Department of Labor. Take the career quiz. Then catch a video and see if a new career might be right for you!
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The STEM Foundation
P.O. Box 1617
Richland, WA 99352
Phone: 509.420.9316
WashingtonSTEMeducation.org
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