JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Aug. 8, 2017 — Since 1995, AT&T and the AT&T Foundation have given nearly $87 million to support STEM initiatives supporting a wide range of programs including robotics, STEM summer camps, and technology initiatives. AT&T is committed to assuring that all youth, especially those seen as at-risk youth are given every opportunity to engage with the technology-rich world of the future. AT&T is committed to systematic improvement in K-12 education, and to helping educators blaze an innovative trail leading to a robust pipeline of STEM-ready high school graduates. Some of that work will now take place here in the greater Jacksonville, Florida area, in conjunction with the Northeast Florida Regional STEM2 Hub.
The Northeast Florida Regional STEM2 Hub has been awarded $40,000 to implement three programs over the next school year in the seven-county region of Nassau, Duval, Clay, St. Johns, Baker, Putnam, and Flagler. Two of the programs, a STEM Bicycle Club and a 3D Printing Club, are being modeled after a successful program implemented by the Greater Cincinnati STEM initiative. The staff of the Northeast Florida Regional STEM2 Hub learned about these programs through their affiliation with the STEM Learning Ecosystem Initiative, a national community of practice led by the STEM Funders Network and supported by the Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM (TIES).
“We are committed to full participation in our national community of practice and to bringing the best ideas to Jacksonville so that we can positively impact economic development by seeding a robust STEM-ready pipeline,” said Kathleen Schofield, Program Director. In both programs, STEM skills and the engineering design process are modeled through project-based learning experiences where students break down and reassemble a bicycle, solving problems and discovering math and science principles at work. The 3D printing club provides students with the opportunity to explore the future through innovative technologies that are revolutionizing the world we live in. Students will conceive, design, and create solutions through the use of 3D printing resources.
The third program to be implemented is called the Web Design Krewe. This innovative, new program has been developed in collaboration with IJHANA, a Jacksonville-based firm committed to advancing business strategy through digital transformation and advanced analytics. The Web Krewes will learn the full realization cycle associated with meeting a business need with emphasis on website development, will design and launch a website for an ultra small business or nonprofit, and will participate in robust competitions. The program has the potential to scale nationally, building a talent pipeline to meet critical needs in the areas of communication, coding, and website development.
“The Northeast Florida Regional STEM2 Hub was established to convene, inspire, and invest in the STEM2 field by providing the critical missing elements to accelerate the growth of STEM2 education and careers, and this generous support from AT&T will launch three new programs in our area,” according to Robert Copeland, Executive Director. He continued, “we are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with AT&T, and to support them in their national commitment to STEM education.”
AT&T’s giving has demonstrated their ongoing commitment to STEM education and the STEM field. AT&T has developed many programs and partnerships that are focused on increasing the number of STEM-ready high school graduates in the pipeline. Through these efforts with the Northeast Florida Regional STEM2 Hub, AT&T continues its long tradition of inspiring and empowering young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T
AT&T Inc. is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its community initiatives, AT&T has a long history of investing in projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; or address community needs. AT&T Aspire is AT&T’s signature philanthropic initiative that drives innovation in education by bringing diverse resources to bear on the issue including funding, technology, employee volunteerism, and mentoring. Through Aspire, we’ve passed the $250 million mark on our plan to invest $350 million in education from 2008-2017.
About the Northeast Florida Regional STEM2 Hub
The Northeast Florida Regional STEM2 Hub represents an investment by 15 companies headquartered in Jacksonville to convene, inspire, and invest in the STEM2 field by providing the essential missing elements to accelerate the growth of STEM2 education and careers in Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam, and St. Johns counties. For a list of corporate board members and more information about the STEM2 field in Northeast Florida, visit our website at stem2hub.org.