HOUSTON (June 24, 2011) — HoustonWorks USA will announce a $1.6 million grant investment from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), a research commission for the U.S. Department of Defense, for the HoustonWorks USA Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Institute. A media event and check presentation with U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee will commence at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, June 25, 2011 at the Houston Technology Center at 410 Pierce St.
HoustonWorks USA STEM Institute is designed to address the nation’s challenge to remain competitive in STEM education. The Institute plans to accomplish this through teacher training, advanced research in STEM related field and youth focused programming. The Institute encompasses research, education, career preparedness, outreach and mentoring through partnerships with corporations, non-profits, universities, as well as local, state and federal governments.
“If America is to remain the economic leader in scientific excellence and innovation, it is imperative for our country to invest in STEM educational programs,” Jackson Lee said. “This investment in workforce training programs and our children’s education will be the catalyst to create the jobs of tomorrow and keep America as the world’s economic and technology leader.”
HoustonWorks USA STEM Institute programs include camps that engage students with hands-on activities and field trips, deepening their understanding and appreciation of STEM subjects in real world settings. 2011 STEM Youth Summer Programs will include STEM Excelleration, a four-week program for 100 local middle and high school students at the University of Houston and Texas Southern University. An additional 50 students will benefit from an engineering residential camp at Texas A&M University. Curricula and activities are relevant, connecting in-class experiences to the world beyond the classroom and the campus.
“Today’s youth are perhaps the largest group of technology consumers and therefore, the very people who have the largest impact on future innovations,” Justice Jim Sharp, HoustonWorks USA Board Member, said. “The STEM Institute’s precise focus upon youth opens their eyes to the importance of STEM subjects, their practical applications to everyday life and the impact of a career in the field of science and technology.”
The STEM Institute additionally benefits educators with the opportunity to advance their knowledge of STEM career opportunities and teaching skills through workshops, internships and conferences. Further, the STEM Research Division supports a database of STEM education opportunities available in the local community, including best practices and evaluation processes for STEM outreach, maximizing the impact and potential of STEM programs for various community and educational organizations.
“As the international economic climate continues to change, it is crucial for investments to be made in the minds of young people, their educators and the community at large,” Larry V. Green, CEO, HoustonWorks USA, said. “Through the STEM Institute and its array of comprehensive programs, HoustonWorks USA is building a highly competitive future workforce.”
About HoustonWorks USA:
Founded in 1984, HoustonWorks USA is the leading provider of services focusing on job placement, continuing education and vocational training. Serving more than 1 million annually, HoustonWorks USA provides job seekers with a variety of workshops including job search techniques, interviewing skills and resume writing, and use of the resource library with internet access and postings of local, state and national job openings. Training is also available in career fields such as healthcare, business, computers and education. HoustonWorks USA manages several of the largest Workforce Solutions offices in Houston and the surrounding region for the Houston-Galveston Area Council. These offices offer a wide range of services for job seekers as well as employers looking for trained workers. HoustonWorks also provides numerous youth programs including internships, scholarships, summits and summer camps. HoustonWorks is a 501(c) 3, tax-exempt organization. Visit www.houstonworks.org for additional information.
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