Northeast Florida Regional STEM2 Hub Outcomes & Impact of THE PLAYERS Computers
The PLAYERS, The PGA Tour, Florida Blue And the STEM2 Hub worked together to empower 500 students with a computer of their own!
Working Together to Close the Digital Divide
Together, we are Closing the Digital Divide
In the fall of 2019, THE PLAYERS and the PGA Tour came together to donate 500 computers to the Northeast Florida Regional STEM2 Hub to be refurbished and put into the hands of local students who did not have a computer. Students who do not have a computer are at risk and do not have the opportunities that those who do have a computer do. Those without a computer cannot complete their
homework, explore coding, do research, explore careers, and complete applications for college. Simply put, this is not fair, and the business community has come together to address this societal issue. Through the generous donations of computers from the business community, as well as the private funding to compete the refurbishments, we have been able to provide nearly 1,000 computers to students who have the greatest need. These computers are making a difference in the lives of students in our communities, stretching from the rural corners of the region, deep into the urban core.
THE PLAYERS and The PGA Tour donated 500 computers , the single largest donation in the history of this project, to aggressively empower local students. The STEM2 Hub worked with local businesses who refurbish computers to give the devices a refresh and update, with the latest operating system installed. Guidewe ll, the parent company of Florida Blue , provided the funding for the cost of refurbishment. The computers were readied, and the staff of the STEM2 Hub got to work identifying partners to work with so that students could be selected to receive a computer. The Northeast Florida Regional STEM2 Hub believes that ALL students need a computer of their own, but that providing students with a computer solves only part of the problem. For that reason, the STEM2 Hub staff works with other youth serving organizations, to connect us with those students in need, and align an educational experience that exposes students to potential STEM careers in various fields so that they are aware of the vast opportunities and high-demand, high-wage careers that are within reach! Partnering with other organizations allows pathways to be built for on-going experiences, such as camps, clubs, competitions, and coursework that can light the way for student success.
Thanks to the generous partnership with THE PLAYERS , The PGA Tour , and Guidewell / Florida Blue , these 500 computers have been distributed. Highlights of the related partnerships and programs are described below: Camps and Events To earn a computer, students participate in a
STEM course, STEM camp, or STEM event. The STEM2 Hub worked with partners to bring STEM into existing one-day camp events that were going to take place. Examples include Jax PAL Football/STEM Camp, an overnight Girls Empowerment event, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of North Florida’s Friday Night Lights program. Together just these two programs reached over 700 students. To date, we are approaching the distribution of almost 1,000 computers! In these camps and events, students rotate
through multiple sessions, gaining exposure to STEM experiences, including flying a drone, learning about the medicine of sports and safety through a Concussion Simulator (in the football camps), programming a robot, coding with Minecraft or Code.org curriculum, and learning about careers through the Learning Blade curriculum. Members of the business community participant, speaking with students about their career and answering questions. Students who engage in these STEM learning experiences, often express interest in learning more, or in joining a STEM club through the organization or at their school. Students in these camps, which serve those students traditionally underrepresented in the tech fields or students in low socioeconomic areas, are frequently selected to receive a computer through our Closing the Digital Divide initiative. Computer Familiarization Workshops Many of these camps served as the prerequisite experience to earn a computer through the Closing the Digital Divide program. When students earn a computer through the Closing the Digital Divide project, they are provide with a training class that teaches them how to use their computer, connect to the internet, access school resources, and try educational tools that will help them learn to code, explore careers, and access other academic content. What is even more important is that they are connected to a youth serving organization, a school, club, or mentorship program that helps to assure the
student has a place to go to learn more and get the maximum benefit from their computer! The computers provide by THE PLAYERS and the PGA Tour, with the support of Guidewell/Florida Blue, were distributed through the following spotlighted partnerships:
Spotlighted Partner Organization
Number of PGA Computers
Police Athletic League 115 Computers Friday Night Lights Boys Boxing & Basketball +STEM/ STEM + Football Camps. Students participated in a STEM & Sports overnight camp. Students flew drones, programmed robots, and participated in the Learning Blade Career Exploration program. All students completing the program were invited back to receive a computer at workshop where they learned additional coding skills. Boys and Girls Clubs of North Florida 72 Computers Citi Teen Center Grand Opening, and program registration. Students participating in regular programs at the Citi Teen Center received a computer through this program. Students attended a workshop to become oriented to their computer and continue to use the computer by participating in career exploration, esports, robotics, drones, and coding. Chief Science Officer, STEM2 Hub Region 62 Computers Students in public, private and charter schools in Duval, Clay, and Putnam Counties participated in the inaugural Florida Chief Science Officer Program. The CSO is the voice of STEM Careers at their school, planning and leading school events at the school level, while advocating for STEM at their district and state level. Each CSO was awarded a computer so that they would have a way to complete their projects and program reporting requirements.
Wilkinson Junior High School 50 Computers Working with the Clay County Education Foundation and the school district, we will identify 50 students at Wilkinson Junior High School who are at risk and in need of a computer. This is the poorest part of Clay County, and the children do not have computers at home. This will enhance their opportunities to advance in their studies, as well as learn to code. Students and parents will come together for this meeting and for the class. Clay County School District will provide support to teach parents and students how to access resources through the portal. Andrew Jackson High School 51 Computers Andrew Jackson High School selected young men and women headed to an IT career. Student work was coordinated by the teachers, Mr. Lozano. He worked with students to have a meaningful project that they were able to complete on their computer at home. Many of the students are also participants in IT clubs. Students receiving the computers are in the following courses: Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles, Multi-User Coding Class, Game Design Coding Class.
Hilliard Junior/Senior High School 25 Computers Students in rural Nassau County were challenged to complete an accelerated pathway in coding utilizing resources available from Code.org. Computers were awarded to the first 25 students to complete the accelerated pathway curriculum at the Hilliard Junior/Senior High School. These students did not have a computer at home and now have the opportunity to continue learning and coding at home, complete their homework, and have support at their school for their learning experiences. Robert E. Lee High School 8 Computers The students at Robert E Lee High School are economically disadvantaged, and in need of computers. At the request of Amy Donofrio, have provided providing a computer to two young men who have just earned a scholarship to college and do not have a computer. There is also a young lady from SHEvac (the sister group for girls) who is attending EWC and did not have a computer. She is a living miracle. She lost both of her parents at age 10 and both of her older sisters were murdered. She needs a computer to be successful in school. These computers give students at risk needed tools for success.
Edward Waters College 7 Computers College students at Edward Waters College in the Criminal Justice Program who are mentoring youth at the Citi Teen Center in Moncrieff at the Boys & Girls Club. Volunteering at the Closing the Digital Divide Event. It came to our attention that these college students do not have a computer. We provided a computer to each of the seven young men so that their coursework would be more accessible. Pace Center for Girls 50 Computers The Pace Center for Girls is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Jacksonville. The Pace Center provides at risk girls with responsive prevention/intervention services in a nonresidential setting. The program includes case management, counseling, and education with a career focus. We were introduced to the Clay County center, and found that these girls did not have computers, nor were there an adequate number of computers at the school, for the girls to be able to participate in coding and learning about career opportunities. Each of the 50 young ladies who attend the program received a computer. provided to the girls at the Clay Campus of the PACE Center for Girls in partnership with the Clay County Education Foundation. The Recovery School 15 Computers The Recover School has a vision is to support a safe and sober learning environment for students in the community who are ready to commit both academically and therapeutically, after a battle with an addictive disorder or substance abuse. The school supports the needs of student in education as well as attending to therapeutic needs. But there is a problem. There is no STEM learning that is occurring in the school, and there is a lack of access to technology for these students. The computers provided are empowering students to do their homework, learn the basics of coding, and explore careers. JASMYN 20 Computers JASMYN supports and empowers LGBTQ young people by creating safe space, providing health and wholeness services and offering youth development opportunities, while bringing people and resources together to promote equality and human rights. Many of these young people have been abandoned by their families, and do not have the resources needed to be successful, to do their schoolwork, and to learn about STEM careers and gain coding skills. Through partnering with THE PLAYERS, we learned of this organization and have allocated these computers so these young people can continue their studies during the COVID-19 pandemic, and attend a series of computer science focused workshops to 25 Computers Through this initiative, the Putnam County School District distributed 25 computers throughout the district to assist with the transition to online learning required through the COVID-19 situation. These 25 computers are empowering learning to continue in some of the most rural reaches of our region. be scheduled as health conditions allow. Putnam County School District
On behalf of The STEM2 Hub Board of Directors, and all stakeholders in the region, we thank you for your commitment to our work.
Northeast Florida Regional STEM2 Hub Board of Directors
David Reichard Chairman of the Board Chief Executive Officer Alluvion Staffing, Inc. Matt Kane Vice-Chair, STEM2 Hub Owner Greenshades Software Michael Aubin President Wolfson Children’s Hospital David Balz Chief Integration Officer Haskell Corporation Mark Bosma Senior Vice President TIAA Bank Kathleen Brandt Senior Vice President & CIO CSX Ido Gileadi/Martha Pretelt Chief Information Officer FIS Global Anna Lebesch Workforce Development, JAXUSA
Gary Chartrand Founding Chairman, NEFL Executive CEO Acosta Sales & Marketing
David Hopper/Jennifer Mason CEO / VP, Strategic Partnerships Auditmacs Matthew Hutchins Vice President Wells Fargo Bank Jane Landon Senior Vice President & CTO Web.com Jason Raymond Chief Information Security Officer Guidewell/Florida Blue Joe Nackashi President Black Knight Financial Lisa Cochran Global Head of Operations, Digitalization & Technology Citi Deanna Brown Partner Ullman Brown Wealth Advisors Katie Enkiri Executive Director, NECA NECA/IBEW Powering America North Florida
Devon Fox The Players Ponte Vedre, Florida
Silver McDonald/Laylah Bulman Lego Education, North America
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