April 21, 2022
New Career Pathways Program for Wake County Students Seeking Business Partners for Summer and Fall 2022
RALEIGH, N.C. — WakeEd Partnership (WakeEd), a business-backed nonprofit organization committed to supporting teachers and students in Wake County, announced today that registration is now open for all Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) rising 10th – 12th graders who wish to participate this summer in a new workplace immersion program “Career Accelerator”. Career Accelerator, developed in partnership with the Wake County Public School System, will be offered to approximately 1,000 rising 10th –12th grade WCPSS students this summer at no cost to students and families.
The full day, two-week program (July 18-29) will offer real-world workplace learning experiences and connect students with employers to explore career pathways. The goal is to help students better know themselves and how their current high school trajectory is helping them prepare for the workforce and post-secondary careers. WCPSS students can sign up using their WCPSS email here and choosing WakeEd Partnership Career Accelerator: https://forms.gle/RD6GPqCremr1hPTx6.
Companies already committed to support the program for students include Amazon, IBM, Wolfspeed, Deutsche Bank Global Technologies, Triangle ESports Academy, Alfred Williams, Gensler, Marbles Museum, Martin Marietta, TowneBank, UNC-Rex Hospital, John Deere, and a host of others from across the county.
“We are thrilled to offer this new opportunity for students to meet and visit with companies right here in Wake County to learn what jobs exist now, what jobs are coming here and how they can be prepared to fill them,” said Keith Poston, President, WakeEd Partnership. “Career Accelerator will allow students to see first-hand what kinds of jobs and careers are available and most importantly the path to get there.”
Confirmed host sites for Career Accelerator include the following high schools: Enloe, East Wake, Sanderson, Heritage, Fuquay Varina, South Garner, Cary and Panther Creek. We anticipate at least one additional high school site to be added. The program is open to ALL students, not just students from these schools. The regional high school sites will serve as hubs for on-site learning and transport to area companies for immersion experiences.
WakeEd is still seeking business partners of any size and from all industry sectors throughout the Wake to host students for immersion experiences or provide guest speakers and panelists to lead workshops for students focused on career pathways, job education requirements, interview skills, resume/LinkedIn profile building, and more.
If you would like to learn more about how your business can get engaged, visit our website or contact Douglas Price, WakeEd’s Director of Programs, at dprice@wakeed.org.
About WakeEd Partnership
WakeEd Partnership is an independent, nonprofit organization composed of business and community leaders committed to improving public education. Since 1983, the Partnership has advocated for excellent educational opportunities for all students in the Wake County Public School System. For more information, please visit www.WakeEd.org.
