As part of the Pittsburgh Technology Council (PTC) and Catalyst Connections Adventures in Technology (AIT) program, Peabody High School is one of six Cisco Academy sponsored schools in Allegheny County to take their classroom lessons into the real world this year.
"We are offering our youth the opportunity to examine first-hand one of the challenges facing city technology," Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said. "We hope that by sharing with them our growth and technology strategies, they will see potential to remain here and continue to improve Pittsburgh after they graduate."
AIT is an industry-focused business, education and community partnership designed to increase the visibility of regional career opportunities in southwestern Pennsylvania. The project directs attention to careers in manufacturing, information technology, biomedical/biotechnology, finance, marketing and information services by stimulating and motivating high school students to participate in a problem-resolution activity with a local organization. The project is sponsored in part by the PTC, Catalyst Connection, and Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board with funding from The Lois Tack Thompson Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation.
"This is a fantastic opportunity to see how the skills the students are learning in the classroom apply to the real world, to expose them to opportunities in technology in the region, and, at the same time, benefit the City in which they live," said Scott Dietz, Catalyst Connection's Manager of Workforce Initiatives. "The experience these students get through this program is something that will benefit them for years to come."
AIT engages high school students in a 10-week, hands-on project to design and build a product or re-engineer an existing product, process or system, which in turn is actually utilized by the hosting company. The project is a complimentary program to the many existing science and technology programs in high schools throughout the region and an ideal activity to introduce high school students to workforce ideas and experiences.
"By working towards the implementation of our first video-conferencing system, these students will be able to say that their work provided the City with an important communication tool," Mayor Ravenstahl said. "I look forward one day to sitting in my conference room and being able to really meet with the Mayor of Philadelphia, or even the Governor, without traveling across the state."
