Youth Symposium on Advanced Manufacturing and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education (Pictures)

Youth Symposium on Advanced Manufacturing and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education

More than 900 middle school students and teachers attended the Youth Symposium on Advanced Manufacturing and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education on Thursday, September 27, 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., at Timmons Arena on the Furman campus.


The event, sponsored by the Greenville Region of Personal Pathways to Success, SC Works Greenville, and Greenville County Schools, highlighted careers in advanced manufacturing (use of technology to improve products), and STEM educational opportunities available to students.

More than 25 manufacturers and STEM-related organizations showcased their products and provided information on careers. Participating companies and organizations included: 3M, BMW, Kemet, Lockheed Martin, Honeywell, ADEX Machining Technologies, Advanced Technology Services, Confluence Watersports, Robert Bosch, Fabrico, GE Aviation, GE Energy, Leigh Fibers, Caterpillar, Discovery Channel, Baldor, Southern Weaving, Advanced Composite Materials, LLC, and GTC.

Speakers included Ryan Childers, BMW, Rose Johnson, 3M, and Ginger Lawrence, Advance Technology Services.

Current STEM-related opportunities in Greenville County Schools include Gateway to Technology in six middle schools, Project Lead the Way in seven high schools, A.J. Whittenberg Elementary School of Engineering, Hughes Middle Academy applied learning lab, F.I.R.S.T. Robotics, and LEGO Robotics.

The Dr. Phinnize J. Fisher Middle School on the ICAR-Millennium Campus in Greenville will open in August 2014 with a STEAM focus, STEM plus the arts.

The school system is also working with Greenville Technical College to provide additional opportunities for advanced study in automated manufacturing and to increase awareness of higher-paying, technology-oriented careers in today’s manufacturing environment.

Facts Related to Advanced Manufacturing and STEM Education

• By 2014, there are expected to be two million jobs created in STEM-related fields (Gates Foundation).

• The number of engineering degrees awarded in the United States is down 20% from the peak year of 1985. (Tapping America’s Potential; www.tap2015.org)

• In 2005, 2.8 million students graduated from high school and 1.9 million went on to two and four year colleges. Fewer than 300,000 majored in STEM-related fields and only about 167,000 are STEM college graduates. (National Center for Education Statistics; Digest of Education

GREC and Clemson University Partner to Host PSAT Workshop

The Greenville Regional Education Center of South Carolina Personal Pathways for Success and Clemson University are hosting a PSAT/SAT workshop on Saturday, Oct. 13, at the University Center in Greenville from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost for each participant is $20, with lunch provided for all participants who register in advance.

Clemson University’s Charles H. Houston Center has joined the Greenville REC as a partner in this effort to reach students in the Upstate.

This workshop is open to all high school students, but is designed for high school sophomores and juniors who will take the PSAT/NMSQT as part of National Merit Scholarships qualifying. For more information about the National Merit Scholarship program, please visit the National Merit Scholarship Corporation website at http://www.nationalmerit.org

The instructor for the course, Tim Jantzi, of Jantzi Test Prep, has successfully prepared tens of thousands of students for the PSAT/SAT nationwide since 1987. For more information visit http://www.4SATPrep.com

A December workshop will also be held in Clemson. The 4-hour workshop will focus on strategies and skills students will need in order to increase their overall scores on the national exam.

To register contact Elaine Gray in Greenville at 864-467-3620 or Teresa Kelley at Clemson University 864-656-0676.

A.J. Whittenberg Elementary School of Engineering Gets Perfect Score on Federal Accountability Report Card

The results are impressive:




• More than 80% of all AJW third graders received an “Exemplary” ranking in English on the PASS test



• More than 77% of all AJW third graders received an “Exemplary” ranking in Math on the PASS test



• More than 90% of all AJW third graders met or exceeded standard in every subject on the PASS test

Using Twitter as a Career Development Tool: A Middle School Experience

Using Twitter as a Career Development Tool: A Middle School Experience


By Allison Rosemond


The use of social media in career development continues to grow. From college career centers using Facebook for marketing career services to career-seekers using LinkedIn for networking, social media sites are fast becoming a mainstay of the career development process for adults. However, only within the last few years has the use of social media for career development trickled down to K-12 public schools. To help close the gap, readers will be introduced to the use of Twitter for virtual job shadowing at a middle school, consisting of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students who learn through the experience of professionals representing several career clusters using 140 characters or less.


Overall, seven businesses and 15 employees participated. Also, the school collaborated with the Coordinator of the local Regional Education Center (REC) for Greenville County South Carolina to offer an orientation. South Carolina has 12 RECs across the state to assist in the implementation of Personal Pathways to Success, the state’s interpretation of the Education and Economic Development Act (2005). Through the collaboration with the local REC, the orientation allowed the participants to learn details of the virtual job shadowing project and, receive a Twitter ‘crash course’, about setting up an account and sending tweets. Employees were required to make their Twitter accounts public for the duration of the project. To read the entire article go to:

http://associationdatabase.com/aws/NCDA/pt/sd/news_article/61764/_PARENT/layout_details_cc/false

To view the students’ O*Net research activity and participant survey, email the author at arosemond@greenville.k12.sc.us. For more information on Personal Pathways to Success, visit http://recs.sc.gov

College Access - College Tour Pic's (College of Charleston & Charleston Southern University)

Greenville REC College Tour Series

As part of the Greenville REC, Commission of Higher Education “College Access” initiative, the Greenville REC has partnered with the Greenville Housing Authority, the Phi Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., SC Works Greenville (JAG at Carolina High School Academy) and the American Health Education Consortium (AHEC) to take 45 middle school and high school students on college tours of the College of Charleston and Charleston Southern University.

On Monday, July 23, 2012, the Greenville REC held a “Getting into College” parents orientation session. At the session, parents and students were provided with information and strategies to successfully navigate the college admissions and financial aid process. Additionally, the participants were provided with information on college entrance test (SAT, ACT), scholarships and the types of colleges and universities.




Parent, Student Orientation






This is the second set of college tours that have been provided to students within the past six months. A group of students and out-of-school youth participated in college tours at Benedict College and Claflin University in the spring.

Parent, Student Orientation

Getting Their Own Jobs Workshop

As part of the SC Works Greenville and Greenville REC Youth Council, the Transitional Jobs Committee Chaired by Robyn Knox held a very success "Getting Their Own Jobs" Workshop on  June 12, 2012. The workshop was designed to equip job developers, case managers, and job placement staff with new methods and tools that will assist adults and students with finding employment.

Additionally, WIB members Doug Dorman, Andrea Jannack and Robyn Knox long with Shane Cobb share information and networked with the participants during the lunch session.

Networking Session

• Robyn Knox, Vice President Human Resources, Southern Weaving
• Doug Dorman, Vice President, Human Resources, Greenville Hospital System
• Shane Cobb, Vice President, Human Resources, Confluence Watersports
• Andrea Jannack, Director, Human Resources, Grove Medical

  

  

Workshop Participants

Goodwill Industries, SC Works Greenville, Virginia College, Brown Mackie

College, SHARE, Job Corps, AARP, SR & I, SC Department of

Employment and Workforce, Greenville REC

Greenville REC and SC Works Greenville Host – Health Care Career Day

A successful health career day was held on April 25 at McAlister Square in Greenville, SC. Over 200 students who have an interest in a career in health care were in attendance. Additionally, out-of- school youth from the Job Corps Center located in Bamberg, SC attended as well. Session topics included:





AL Squire

Greenville Hospital System

• ARE YOU ALL THAT?

• HANDLE YOUR BUSINESS

Charles Darling

Becky Sawyer

Greenville Hospital System

• Pharmacy

Joyce Morris

Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital System

• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, (CRNA)

Admission Office

Greenville Technical College

• Admissions Process

Joyce Moyer

Greenville Technical College

• Surgical Tech

April Ridgeway

Princeton Review

• SAT, ACT, MCAT Testing


Financial Aid Office

Greenville Technical College

• Financial Aid

Sue Phillips,

DSS Project Hope

• Project Hope

The event was sponsored by the Greenville REC, SC Works Greenville, and the Upstate Health Coalition

Greenville REC and SC Works Greenville to Host - "Getting Their Own Jobs"

On June 12, 2012, the Transitional Jobs Committee will be hosting, “Getting their own jobs” a workshop designed to assist agencies with strategies to help job seekers. The event will be held in Suite E-1 from 9:30 to 4:30.

GE hones workers' skills

Apprenticeship program helping company fill needs for skilled positions

General Electric’s Greenville gas turbine operation is looking for 15 of the best as it partners with Greenville Technical College on a new apprenticeship program.


GE is joining six or seven other companies, including Drive Automotive and Bosch Rexroth, in operating apprenticeship programs through Greenville Tech.

“As we look out to the next 10 to 20 years, we believe there will potentially be a shortage in skilled workers, particularly machinists,” said Jason Larsen, human resources manager at GE Energy’s Greenville manufacturing facility. A large group of workers will be retiring over those years and more need to be trained as both GE and other manufacturers need more highly skilled workers.

GE spent six to 12 months setting up the program. In addition to Greenville Tech, it has worked with various work force development teams such as ReadySC, SC Works, and Pathways to Success, said Alexis Johnson, an HR leadership trainee who is on an eight-month assignment to Greenville and is helping lead the apprenticeship program.

Those groups are helping GE get the word out about the program to high schools and to areas where displaced workers congregate, she said.

GE has posted the program on its website and is recruiting applicants. They can apply at gegasturbinejobs.com through mid- to late May. Requirements are a high school diploma or GED, mechanical aptitude, strong basic math skills and a passion for manufacturing. The applicants also will need strong interpersonal and communication skills, as they will be working in teams.

To read the full article, please go to www.greenvilleonline.com

2012 Upstate JAG Conference

JAG Students Arrive!

The theme for the conference was “If it is to be, it is up to me”. The conference was held at McAlister Square on March 1, 2012. The conference provided over 300 students with the essential skills and tools needed for life after high school. JAG students from across Upstate high schools participated in sessions that were geared to prepare students for success in their educational pursuits as well as in everyday life. The pre-conference was sponsored by the Greenville REC, SC Works Greenville, the US Navy and JAG.

The Greenville Region of Personal Pathways to Success and SC Works Greenville Provide College Tours for In School and Out of School Youth

The tours were held at Claflin University in Orangeburg, SC and at Benedict College in Columbia, SC. The purpose of the tours was to provide in school and out of school youth with awareness and information about college. Participating in the college tours were youth from Wade Hampton HS, GEAR, AHEC and Greenville Housing.


The youth were provided with:

• Information on both colleges

• High School Seniors and out of school youth received college applications with a fee waiver

• The youth went on a campus tours led by college students

• The youth were provided with information on how to complete college applications, financial aid, student life and scholarships



College Tour Youth on the campus of Claflin University





College Tour Youth on the campus of Benedict College



Tour Guide speaking with youth, Benedict College

Save The Date: JAG Upstate Conference

JAG Upstate Conference

“If it is to be, it is up to me”

Thursday, March 1, 2012

10:00am – 1:00pm

McAlister Square