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Lancaster, PA – Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Deputy Secretary for Workforce Development Eileen Cipriani today visited the Junior Achievement STEM Summit (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) at JP McCaskey High School in Lancaster and highlighted Governor Tom Wolf’s PAsmart proposal that would invest in STEM training in Pennsylvania.
“Bolstering the STEM workforce in the commonwealth remains a top priority of the Wolf administration,” Cipriani said. “Encouraging students to pursue in-demand, STEM-related occupations provides them with an opportunity to explore jobs in various science and technology fields that lead to family-sustaining jobs. Additionally, encouraging STEM education and training provides employers with a pool of highly skilled job seekers prepared to meet future employment needs.”
Junior Achievement of South Central Pennsylvania hosts the day-long STEM Summit program at high schools throughout the region. Approximately 300 ninth-grade students participated in Wednesday’s program. Student groups rotated through nine sessions throughout the day, each facilitated by business and community volunteers. The sessions included a career panel, biology, chemistry, and physics experiments, competitions in math, robotics, and a STEM relay, and activities in CAD and coding.
More than 30 volunteers from companies including Citizens Bank, CNH Industrial, Excelon Nuclear, Lanco Federal Credit Union, Listrak, McKonly & Asbury LLP, Nielson, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, and Wells Fargo Bank helped to facilitate the day’s activities. Each volunteer has a career in a STEM field and was able to share their background with the students throughout the day.
“Junior Achievement is excited to be part of expanding STEM awareness in South Central Pennsylvania,” said Tom Russell, President of JA of South Central PA. “This year over 12,000 students participated in the STEM Summit. We are excited to bring the program to JP McCaskey High School.”
Governor Wolf’s PAsmart proposal is a new way of thinking about job training and workforce development by providing targeted funding for STEM, computer science, apprenticeships, and more so students and workers get the training and skills needed for in-demand, middle class jobs.
The proposal includes $25 million to expand STEM and computer science education and training at all levels, as well as $10 million to develop career and technical education and STEM career paths.
Over the next decade, 71 percent of new jobs will require education and skills beyond high school.
“JP McCaskey High School promotes career and technical education programs that prepare students for successful careers, to better meet the needs of local employers,” said Cipriani. “Governor Wolf’s PAsmart proposal supports new investments to improve access for Pennsylvania students and workers to education, training, and career readiness programs.”
“As a district, we want to expose students to careers in areas they might not think about,” said School District of Lancaster Superintendent Dr. Damaris Rau. “We know there is a significant need for employees in STEM, and we are excited to introduce students to new areas of study. As a district of over 11,000 students, there are countless future STEM workers in our educational system.”
JP McCaskey’s career technical education (CTE) program provides students with a career path and college-readiness skills. As a comprehensive high school, McCaskey is one of the few high schools in Pennsylvania to offer PDE-approved CTE training programs that lead to industry certifications and offer articulated credits at dozens of state colleges. CTE seniors complete an end-of-program, national occupational competency assessment. The NOCTI exam is based on industry standards and assesses students’ knowledge and performance skills.
For more information about pursuing an education and career in Pennsylvania at any stage of life, visit PAsmart.
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