PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release June 18, 2018 FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact: Catherine Howland Hawai‘i Community Foundation (808) 566-5569 (Office) (808) 260-5001 (Mobile) chowland@hcf-hawaii.org
827 Fort Street Mall Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813 Phone: 808-537-6333 Fax: 808-521-6286 HawaiiCommunityFoundation.org
HAWAI‘I COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AWARDS $1.5 MILLION IN CAREER CONNECTED LEARNING GRANTS HONOLULU, HI – By cultivating partnerships between schools, community groups, and businesses, the Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s (HCF) Career Connected Learning grants aim to prepare Hawai‘i’s students for the workforce of the future. Because the fastest growing industries of tomorrow require training in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), these grants support programming with strong STEM components. Career Connected Learning grants also provide funding for industry-based design challenges and internships, as well as training for teachers and parents to help students through complex decisions as they transition into working adulthood. “The need for STEM-literacy in Hawai‘i continues to grow at a rapid pace. Today’s students will be tomorrow’s leaders at the intersection of exciting fields like renewable energy, healthcare, marine science, and agriculture,” said Micah Kāne, CEO and president of HCF. “Through Career Connected Learning, HCF hopes to ensure that our keiki will thrive in that dynamic economy.” Career Connected Learning grants have been distributed to 43 schools and nonprofits on Hawai‘i Island and Kaua‘i to expand the range of experiences for students to develop academic, technical, trade, and entrepreneurial skills. The Foundation launched the Hawai‘i Island-based STEM learning program in 2014 when Thirty Meter Telescope created the THINK Fund at HCF and committed resources. Since that time, additional funding partners have contributed to the effort and provided more than 12,000 students and 900 educators on Hawai‘i Island with STEM-related programming. Most recently, Strada Education Network contributed funds that have expanded the Career Connected Learning grant program to reach students on Kaua‘i and strengthen the alignment between various STEM learning programs that are currently available with the specific needs of Hawai‘i’s evolving workforce. The long-term goals of HCF’s Career Connected Learning program are to:
Increase the number of students completing STEM degrees and career training that connect to work opportunities in Hawai‘i; Increase the number of teachers, career counselors and volunteers prepared to guide students through college and career pathways; and Increase partnerships between educators and employers to provide relevant work-based learning experiences for students in Hawai‘i STEM fields. -more-