(March 26, 2015) Worcester County Economic Development (WCED) is now accepting applications for the 2015 STEP UP and Reach for the Stars summer programs. These programs provide opportunities to Worcester County youth to explore career paths in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Applications are available online at www.chooseworcester.org/STEM and are due no later than Tuesday, March 31.
“Since 2013, WCED has offered the STEP UP and Reach for the Stars programs to engage local students in the STEM disciplines,” WCED Director Bill Badger said. “This county program connects local students, from middle schoolers through the university level, with businesses and agencies in Worcester County. These programs provide students with a platform to learn from professionals and entrepreneurs in their own communities while allowing employers the opportunity to home grow their future workforce.”
Reach for the Stars is an eight-day computer science and aerospace engineering summer camp taught by a team of qualified educators and IT and engineering professionals. Offered at The Red Doors Community Center on Third Street in Ocean City, it is open to Worcester residents enrolled in grades 6-9 in the 2014/2015 school year. There is no cost to participate in the camp, and transportation, meals, and snacks are provided. Space is limited to 20 students. Camp will take place during a two-week period: July 20-23 and July 27-30.
The STEP UP Summer Internship Program is designed to provide high school and college students with the opportunity to gain hands-on work experience in a STEP career field, thus providing an opportunity for classroom studies to be applied to real life tasks. It also connects Worcester County STEM businesses with their future workforce.
Interns will be placed in medical settings, IT companies, engineering firms, environmental science agencies, and digital media production companies in Worcester County. They will also participate in professional development sessions while on the job that teach communication, time management and career skills. They will earn $11/hour in 20-hour a week internships over a six-week period from June 22 to Aug. 1. To be eligible, students must be Worcester County residents entering grades 11 or 12 or attending a university and majoring in a STEM field (students away at college are still considered county residents), be at least 16 years old, and be eligible to work in the United States. Returning participants are welcomed, but are limited to three total years of program eligibility and no more than two years of placement at the same internship site.
In addition to filling out a completed application, interested students must provide supporting documents, including transcripts and recommendations from a teacher and a community member. Transcripts and the application signature form should be mailed to: STEP UP STEM Internship Program, Worcester County Economic Development, 100 Pearl Street Ste B, Snow Hill, Md. 21863.
Prospective interns will be contacted by Friday, April 3, to schedule an interview. Interviews will take place on April 6, 8, and 11. Program selections will be announced via email on Friday, April 24. The matching period where selected interns are placed with employers takes place during May and June. Some employers require a second interview before confirming a placement. Internships begin June 22.
The application process for the camp and internship program is competitive. For more information about the Step Up and Reach for the Stars Program, call Fawn Mete at 410-289-5576 or fawn@reddoors.org or visit www.chooseworcester.org/STEM.
Applications are available online at www.chooseworcester.org/STEM and are due no later than Tuesday, March 31.
“Since 2013, WCED has offered the STEP UP and Reach for the Stars programs to engage local students in the STEM disciplines,” WCED Director Bill Badger said. “This county program connects local students, from middle schoolers through the university level, with businesses and agencies in Worcester County. These programs provide students with a platform to learn from professionals and entrepreneurs in their own communities while allowing employers the opportunity to home grow their future workforce.”
Reach for the Stars is an eight-day computer science and aerospace engineering summer camp taught by a team of qualified educators and IT and engineering professionals. Offered at The Red Doors Community Center on Third Street in Ocean City, it is open to Worcester residents enrolled in grades 6-9 in the 2014/2015 school year. There is no cost to participate in the camp, and transportation, meals, and snacks are provided. Space is limited to 20 students. Camp will take place during a two-week period: July 20-23 and July 27-30.
The STEP UP Summer Internship Program is designed to provide high school and college students with the opportunity to gain hands-on work experience in a STEP career field, thus providing an opportunity for classroom studies to be applied to real life tasks. It also connects Worcester County STEM businesses with their future workforce.
Interns will be placed in medical settings, IT companies, engineering firms, environmental science agencies, and digital media production companies in Worcester County. They will also participate in professional development sessions while on the job that teach communication, time management and career skills. They will earn $11/hour in 20-hour a week internships over a six-week period from June 22 to Aug. 1. To be eligible, students must be Worcester County residents entering grades 11 or 12 or attending a university and majoring in a STEM field (students away at college are still considered county residents), be at least 16 years old, and be eligible to work in the United States. Returning participants are welcomed, but are limited to three total years of program eligibility and no more than two years of placement at the same internship site.
In addition to filling out a completed application, interested students must provide supporting documents, including transcripts and recommendations from a teacher and a community member. Transcripts and the application signature form should be mailed to: STEP UP STEM Internship Program, Worcester County Economic Development, 100 Pearl Street Ste B, Snow Hill, Md. 21863.
Prospective interns will be contacted by Friday, April 3, to schedule an interview. Interviews will take place on April 6, 8, and 11. Program selections will be announced via email on Friday, April 24. The matching period where selected interns are placed with employers takes place during May and June. Some employers require a second interview before confirming a placement. Internships begin June 22.
The application process for the camp and internship program is competitive. For more information about the Step Up and Reach for the Stars Program, call Fawn Mete at 410-289-5576 or fawn@reddoors.org or visit www.chooseworcester.org/STEM.