By Steffen Klenk
On Monday, members of the Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce arrived at Mainland Regional High School to present a check in the amount of $3,450. The money will go towards funding for the YouScience test, a program aimed at connecting students, educators, and area businesses. This cutting edge program enables students to explore their areas of interest and guide them towards attaining career opportunities in Atlantic County.
In attendance for Monday’s check presentation was Michael Chait, President of the Greater Atlantic City Chamber, joined by board members Mitchell Zitomer, and John Heinz, in addition to members of the Mainland Board of Education.
Chait began reaching out to local school districts during the pandemic, with the idea to connect students to jobs and careers close to home. “There are a lot of job openings that exist, that pay good salaries, that kids don’t know about.”
Mainland’s Director of School Counseling and Instruction Supervisor Nathan Lichtenwalner has been utilizing the YouScience program with his students over the last seven years. He says the program not only connects students to real-world job opportunities and experiences outside of school but enables students to stay in the Atlantic County region. “It’s a win-win; the employers need us, but we also need them.”
While most schools utilize career interest surveys to gauge students’ potential career interest, the YouScience test goes beyond their interests through a series of brain exercises, aimed at discovering student’s natural interests and aptitude. The program will then connect students to jobs that are best fit to their abilities, guiding them toward potential career paths and opportunities they may have never heard of or knew of its existence.
According to Chait, Monday’s check presentation by Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce is not only a significant step to the organization’s commitment to local education and long-term workforce development, but enables educators to inspire and prepare students, while enabling them to broaden their horizons. “It’s tremendous; you need the collaboration between educators and the business community to build the local talent pipeline.”
The Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce has recently established a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation aimed at expanding the program to additional schools in Atlantic County. Those interested in learning more information or ways to contribute to the initiative may contact Michael Chait at (609) 345-4524 or by email at mchait@acchamber.com.
