OMAHA, NE. Feb. 12 – Nebraska and Iowa’s largest, weeklong business/student collaborative learning initiative launched today, creating 18,000 unique student experiences for more than 20 school districts, multiple universities and 140 organizations in six counties February 12-18.
Careerockit (http://careerockit.com/), a no-cost program of the Greater Omaha Chamber, paired elementary through post-secondary students seeking engagement and information with regional businesses and nonprofits. The goal: to create career interest, grow the area’s talent pipeline and connect organizations with future employees.
Experiences in Cass, Dodge, Douglas, Sarpy, Pottawattamie and Washington counties were custom-tailored to meet students’ needs, and were available in a variety of industries, spotlighting a host of careers.
“We’re excited to participate and encourage kids to take STEM courses and pursue their dream career in this space,” said Rama Kolli, chief information officer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, a participating Careerockit organization. “The intersection of health care and technology is filled with so many opportunities in the future.”
Now in its second year, Careerockit, which hosted 11,000 student experiences in 2017, has seen brisk program adoption by learners and businesses.
Millard Public Schools, home to more than 23,000 students, participated in Careerockit’s inaugural year, and returned to the endeavor in 2018, offering learning experiences in classrooms and with local organizations.
“Exploration of what could be builds hope for students,” said Jim Sutfin, Ed.D., superintendent, Millard Public Schools. “A thriving city has a pipeline from school to career. This is one step schools and businesses can take together to show our young people that they have a bright future right here in our amazing city. In Omaha, we don’t coast!”
Sutfin, who champions inclusive, preparatory, world-class education added, “Careerockit is an opportunity for students to explore careers and business leaders to create awareness about future jobs. I want our students to be thinking about careers that interest them and build upon their talents.”
Joe Vinchattle, assistant principal Lewis Central High School, concurred, “Lewis Central High School is participating in Careerockit with the hope to build connections between education and local business/industry, specifically, in the career and technical education fields where there is a high demand for students to stay and work within their community.”
Experiential learning – learning that helps build the kind of connections Vinchattle suggests – is foundational to Careerockit and invites students to examine potential job paths, and assess career-readiness, through activities that transition theory into practice, spark curiosity and stimulate problem-solving.
“We hope that the students in our program, in four high schools and one middle school, are able to visualize themselves in some of the different careers and walk away knowing what it takes to successfully enter the career because they will hear from the industry professionals themselves and they will be in the surroundings they will hopefully be working in,” said Albert Varas, executive director, Latino Center of the Midlands
Sponsors such as Avenue Scholars, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, Completely Kids and Metropolitan Utilities District, along with participating educators, students and organizations, helped fuel this year’s Careerockit.
“An effort of this scale is only possible with countless partners and supporters. We are extremely grateful to all the businesses and non-profits that are participating and to our school districts at all levels from superintendents, to principals, teachers, and of course students! Everyone’s contributions have added up to this great and massive initiative called Careerockit- thank you,” said Patricia Mayorga, manager, talent, Greater Omaha Chamber.
About Careerockit
A program of the Greater Omaha Chamber and supported by community partners, the Careerockit creates opportunities and bridges connecting the business and educational community in order to meet current and future talent needs. Participating organizations provide students and young adults with opportunities to move along the learning pipeline, gain applicable knowledge and build excitement for growing career options in their home communities.
About the Greater Omaha Chamber
The mission of the Greater Omaha Chamber (https://www.omahachamber.org/) is to champion a thriving business community and a prosperous region through visionary leadership and collaboration.