Latin America. Verizon Innovative Learning, the company's education initiative that seeks to drive digital equity and inclusion, extends its collaboration with the National Association of Community College Entrepreneurs (NACCE) to bring Verizon Innovative Learning's STEM Achievers program to historically black universities (HBCUs), Hispanic community-serving institutions (HSIs), and colleges and universities Community.
Verizon Innovative Learning's STEM Achievers is a free, free, project-based, immersive science, technology, engineering and math program available to under-resourced high school students to learn STEM subjects, develop problem-solving skills and access career opportunities in technology areas. In 2023, 90 percent of students in the summer program said they enjoyed learning new STEM-related topics, while 83% said they could find practical applications of STEM to influence issues affecting the community, nation, or world. This year, Verizon Innovative Learning's STEM Achievers will expand its reach and seek to increase the number of participants from 11,900 students last year to 13,500 in 2024.
The program's interactive curriculum, developed by Verizon, in collaboration with Arizona State University's J. Orin Edson Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, focuses on four educational pathways: immersive media, smart solutions, digital product innovations, and artificial intelligence. Participants receive mentorship, access to state-of-the-art technology – such as 3D printing, augmented reality (AR) and robotics – as well as hands-on training related to today's world challenges that help develop design thinking and social entrepreneurship. The program takes place on the campuses of 45 HBCUs, HSIs, and community colleges across the country.
"As applied sciences and artificial intelligence continue to drive technological innovation, business leaders have a responsibility to ensure inclusion and equitable access to digital education," said Rose Stuckey Kirk, director of corporate social responsibility at Verizon. "One of our many strategies to address this issue is Verizon Innovative Learning's STEM Achievers summer program, which in partnership with NACCE, offers students hands-on learning, mentorship, and opportunities to become familiar with emerging technologies and develop the skills needed to succeed in the digital job market. Expanding opportunities for students to engage with technology over the summer and boost their own digital learning and skills can set them up for success during the school year, in high school, and in life. Verizon Innovative Learning's STEM Achievers STEM Achievers take on big, bold projects through the program, both in and out of the classroom, and Verizon is honored to be a part of that accomplishment."
Free registration for parents to register their children in grades six through eight for in-person summer sessions is now open. Verizon Innovative Learning's STEM Achievers program also includes a full-day, in-person workshop in both the fall and spring terms at the partner university. To enroll in Verizon Innovative Learning's STEM Achievers program, click here.
State-of-the-art learning for all
Teachers and students can also take advantage of opportunities at Verizon Innovative Learning HQ, an award-winning, free education portal that offers state-of-the-art learning tools, including a collection of lesson plans. Through Verizon Innovative Learning HQ, K-12 educators nationwide can access more than 375 lesson plans with 22 augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) apps for free. In addition, the education portal provides teachers with extensive training and resources, including more than 50 professional development courses. Teachers can visit Verizon.com/Learning to participate.
Verizon Innovative Learning, Verizon's award-winning education initiative, celebrates more than a decade of commitment to addressing the barriers to digital inclusion for students and teachers. Since 2012, the initiative has invested more than $1 billion to support digital equity, reaching more than 7 million students. Verizon Innovative Learning provides free technology, internet access and innovative learning programs to students in under-resourced communities, enabling them to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to build an innovative workforce of the future. A key initiative under Citizen Verizon, the company's responsible business plan for economic, environmental and social progress, Verizon Innovative Learning is helping to drive the company's goal of providing digital skills training by 2030 to more than 10 million young people nationwide.
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