CompTIA Partners with New York Academy of Sciences to Interest Teens in Tech Careers

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Jan. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As part of its NextUp initiative to interest teens in tech careers, CompTIA is partnering with the New York Academy of Sciences on a series of mentoring opportunities. CompTIA is recruiting its members and certified IT professionals to work with the Academy's Hack Your Health curriculum, which helps students discover how tech know-how can be connected to an interest in health and fitness.

Funded by CompTIA and managed by Creating IT Futures, NextUp selected the New York Academy of Sciences as one of its primary partners to help spark curiosity and passion for technology in teens.

"One of the key findings we uncovered in our research last year is that for teens to become interested in tech careers they have to learn directly from IT professionals about why they love their jobs," said Charles Eaton, executive vice president, social innovation, CompTIA. "We've helped the Academy's Hack Your Health program with a $25,000 donation, but just as important, we're asking our members and certification holders to volunteer and show teens why tech is such a great career path."

The Academy is conducting a STEM Camp for middle-schoolers on Feb. 21-24, 2017. About two dozen volunteers are needed to help deploy the Hack Your Health curriculum to about 150 student participants over two days (Feb. 23 and 24). Students will rotate through different stations to generate data, work on laptops to learn Scratch, analyze their data and do additional hands-on activities. Volunteer mentors will manage a station and work with the kids to complete the activities. A volunteer engagement will last about three hours for a morning or afternoon session.

"The New York Academy of Sciences' partnership with CompTIA is particularly important to us as part of our long-term goal to provide quality STEM education opportunities for students worldwide," said Ellis Rubinstein, president and CEO.  "We are pleased to have their IT professionals supporting the Academy's Hack Your Health curriculum to promote teen interest in technology as well as health and fitness."

Volunteers also are needed later in the year for the Academy's Hack Your Health one-day workshops (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) which are usually held on Saturdays and school holidays.  

In addition, CompTIA mentors are invited to apply to the Academy's other mentoring programs such as 1:1 virtual mentoring programs for STEM students from around the world. These programs include programs for high school and university students and require a year-long commitment for one to two hours a week.

Volunteers can register by contacting Joan Matz at [email protected]. 

Press Contact:
Lisa Fasold
Creating IT Futures
630-678-8558
[email protected]

SOURCE CompTIA

Related Links

http://www.comptia.org