Mississippi Association of Partners in Education #PartnershipPower
2017 Governor's Award
CREATE Foundation and 72 Northeast Mississippi middle schools - Imagine the Possibilities Career Expo
Partners: Toyota Motor Manufacturing Wellspring Education Enhancement Fund Advisory Committee, Community Development Foundation, Three Rivers Planning and Development District, Appalachian Regional Commission and approximately 60 additional companies, organizations, and individual sponsors
Students impacted: 7,000 Volunteers: 450 Partnership duration: 2 years
Launched in 2015, the Imagine the Possibilities Career Expo has grown into a three-day, highly collaborative and engaging event that serves approximately 7,000 eighth graders from 72 schools in all 17 counties of the CREATE Foundation service region. The expo, which is hosted in the BancorpSouth Arena and Conference Center in Tupelo, is a major component of the “Linking Education to Careers” initiative by the Toyota Wellspring Education Fund to enhance educational opportunities for public school K-12 students in counties surrounding Toyota's manufacturing plant. Expo business participation grew from 124 companies the first year to 137 in 2016, with pledges steadily arriving from additional participants for the 2017 expo.
Activities:
Interactive career pathway exhibits
Air Force jet-pilot training simulation
Built and propelled air-powered rockets
Computer assembly and troubleshooting
Mock presidential election
Impacts
Student exit survey: 98% satisfaction rate
Increased career awareness and readiness
Attendance and community involvement steadily growing
