January 29, 2010

Junior Achievement Unveils New Innovation Hub

Interactive Learning Environment will Help Students Prepare for High-Tech Careers

WILMINGTON, Del. – Junior Achievement (JA) of Delaware broke ground Friday on a new “Innovation Hub” to help attract students to careers in the state’s growing job sectors, including the biosciences and biotech industries.
 
The Innovation Hub is an interactive program for students, teachers and guidance counselors to better understand Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) career options and track what high school courses, secondary education and skill sets each vocation requires. Delaware officials, business leaders, and area students attended the ceremonial groundbreaking event at the JA’s Walnut Street location in Wilmington, Del.
 
"It's critical in the short-term that we help get people back to work and improve economic opportunities for everyone. But our long-term prosperity demands that we prepare our kids for the careers of the future that require a foundation in science and technology," Governor Jack Markell said. "This is a great example of how Delaware, as a state of neighbors, work together to make a real difference."
 
”As a former engineer, I know first-hand how critically important STEM education is for preparing our students in Delaware for the jobs of the future in green technology and biomedical development,” said U.S. Senator Ted Kaufman (D-Del.). ”Junior Achievement of Delaware and its partners are critical to making sure that we meet workforce demands in the technology-based industries in the years to come. JA’s efforts and services, including the Innovation Hub, will inspire students to study STEM and will give them the appropriate tools to pursue a career in these fields.”
 
“The JA Innovation Hub will show kids how they can change the world by connecting their passions and natural curiosities to work that is going on right here in the state of Delaware,” said JA President Rob Eppes.
 
At the ceremony, AstraZeneca presented JA with a check for $25,000 to develop the hub, which will reach 10,000 students annually. The company joins Accenture, DOW, and DuPont as the founding sponsors of the project. When the hub is completed, each student will walk away with educational roadmaps that Junior Achievement says will ultimately lead directly to the doors of burgeoning STEM businesses with workforce needs.
 
About Junior Achievement:
Junior Achievement provides students with a unique foundation of business and economic education. The organization works with businesses, educators, and policy makers to strengthen the local workforce and economy.