CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (Sept. 9, 2024)–Kirkwood Community College’s Workplace Learning Connection (WLC) has been named a finalist in the U.S. Department of Education’s Career Z Challenge. WLC is one of just 10 programs from across the country chosen for the final phase of the competition that seeks creative solutions to expand access to high-quality, work-based learning (WBL) opportunities that will prepare students for successful careers in today’s workforce.
The program was named a semi-finalist in the fall of 2023, which enabled it to receive technical assistance to support the implementation of its WBL plan as well as access to learning workshops, peer collaboration and other resources throughout the 2023-24 academic year. During that time, more than 32,000 career exploration experiences were provided to 6th-12th grade students across the college’s seven-county service area. Once the semi-finalist program requirements were completed, WLC received $10,000 in funding to use in pursuit of its mission.
Now a finalist, WLC will receive tailored technical assistance to accelerate the expansion and sustainability of its WBL ecosystem during the final phase of the Challenge. Each finalist that completes the initiative’s requirements will be eligible to receive a prize award of $150,000.
According to WLC Director Kristine Bullock, being named a finalist is a huge honor and is a great chance to learn from the other organizations that were chosen as well.
“For over two decades, Kirkwood’s Workplace Learning Connection has partnered with local schools and businesses to provide high-quality work-based learning experiences that help students see how their interests can connect to local training and career opportunities,” said Bullock. “We are excited to be recognized as a top ecosystem and look forward to learning from other high-quality programs across the country.”
The 10 finalists were selected by a panel of judges with subject matter expertise in secondary and post-secondary education, business and industry, and workforce development. Based on the review results, Department of Education selected 10 finalists to participate in the last phase of the Challenge, which will begin this month. The finalists chosen were:
- Atlanta College and Career Academy, (Ga.)
- Educational Service Center of Central Ohio
- Flare Education, (Mass.)
- Future Focused Education, (N.M.)
- Grand Forks Public Schools, (N.D.)
- Kirkwood Community College, (Iowa)
- Lorain County Joint Vocational School, (Ohio)
- Roanoke City Public Schools, (Va.)
- South Bronx Community Charter High School, (N.Y.)
- YouthForce NOLA, (La.)
Additional details about the Career Z Challenge can be found here. For more information about Workplace Learning Connection, go to www.kirkwood.edu/wlc.