UAA helps increase access into STEM fields for Alaska high school students

by Kathleen McCoy  |   

Statewide partners sign an Engineering Academies MOU to grow Alaska's technical workforce

The University of Alaska and the Alaska Process Industry Careers Consortium (APICC) reached an agreement in mid-November to collaborate with the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development and the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development to plan, develop and support access to engineering academies for public high school students in Alaska. This initiative will help build a pipeline of highly qualified Alaskans to enter careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, or STEM, fields.

On Nov. 17, partners gathered on UAA's campus to sign an Engineering Academies MOU to establish the basis for collaborative work in planning, developing a funding proposal and establishing a coordinated implementation system for sustaining the initiative.

Signing as partners are:

  • Todd Bergman, Executive Director of APICC
  • Fran Ulmer, Chancellor, University of Alaska Anchorage
  • Brian Rogers, Chancellor, University of Alaska Fairbanks
  • John Pugh, Chancellor, University of Alaska Southeast
  • Larry LeDoux, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
  • Click Bishop, Commissioner, Alaska Department of Education and Workforce Development

Also in attendance was Stephanie Garrard, Alaska Contributions Manager for Wells Fargo Bank Alaska, who issued a challenge grant announcement. This is significant in helping jump start fundraising efforts, both monetary and technical, to help move the initiative forward.

Because of its commitment to growing Alaska's workforce and its nearly 50 years in Alaska, Shell also stepped up to issue the initiative's first industry contribution at the signing ceremony.

STEM

[Click image for larger view. From left to right: Laurie Becwar, Human Resources Manager, Shell Alaska; Todd Bergman, Executive Director, Alaska Process Industry Careers Consortium; Susan Moore, Operations Manager, Shell Alaska; Joe Everhart, Senior Vice President and Alaska Business Banking Manager, Wells Fargo Bank; Fran Ulmer, Chancellor, University of Alaska Anchorage; Les Morse, Deputy Commissioner, Alaska Department of Education and Early Development; David Stone, Deputy Commissioner, Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development; Bob Shefchik, Executive Officer, University of Alaska Fairbanks. Not pictured: John Pugh, Chancellor, University of Alaska Southeast]

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