Key Programs

CNY STEM Scholars Program is a creative, collaborative STEM workforce recruitment strategy designed to attract and retain regional high school students who plan to pursue a college degree in a STEM related field. The program employs effective strategies for communication, selection of students interested in pursuing STEM careers and the process for awarding scholarships to graduating seniors, with a select amount focused on female and minority applicants. This highly effective program guarantees STEM Scholars an internship at one of six companies supporting scholarship awards after their sophomore and junior years of college. The results are the development of a talent pipeline with bi-annual meetings conducted with over 600 STEM candidates in 5 years at regional STEM companies.

Collaborative Educators Summit is a two-day professional learning forum that brings numerous district teams together to advance STEM practices, promote project-based learning and strengthen innovative trans-disciplinary collaboration. The keynote provides motivation and tools for change, followed with practitioner-led dialogues sharing best practices. Teams continue networking at a dinner convened by business partners. Action plans to strengthen STEM education in each district are created. Post-event surveys indicate the Summit is very effective at developing collaborative cultures that transform instructional practices. This event, provided at no cost to school teams, is a model of business and community partnership to support student learning.