By Pepper Fisher
PORT ANGELES – For young people, succeeding in the local and even the global economy is more and more dependent on getting a solid education in the STEM skills; science, technology, engineering and math.
With that in mind, this week Peninsula College joined a consortium of community partners in the West Sound STEM Network, a collaboration of educators, non-profits, business leaders, Tribal leaders, and representatives from local government and the military, working to introduce and link students and teachers to STEM resources.
Peninsula College President Dr. Suzy Ames says joining the network should be a game changer some of our local students.
“One of the challenges when it comes to getting students into a STEM pathway is, it’s a complex field. And so, the more industry and community partners come together, the more creatively we can think about ways where we can provide easier access to students to get into those STEM fields.”
Ames says the network can not only get students better access to those studies, they can help get access to funding resources as well.
“We’ll have much greater access to grant opportunities, which bring money to be able to pay for things like scholarships or tuition and some resources for students to be able to get hands-on training in a STEM field. And by having this preformed network, we can all be committed to putting our bureaucracies and our limitations aside and focus on the power of collaboration. And when we all come together with that spirit, then we can just create new opportunities for students that don’t exist right now.”
Ames says one of the goals of the network is to make sure that access to resources is made available to everyone who wants it.
“And it’s really about creating access to meaningful careers right here in our community. But especially, for those students who are least likely to have easy access to these types of jobs. So, really, looking at our underserved, our low-income students, our students of color, and how can we create more meaningful pathways with tons of support wrapped around them, so that they can have the full realization of their fullest potential.”
Find out more at pencol.edu.