ALTOONA – Students from Mount Aloysius College joined business and community leaders at the Blair County Convention Center today to showcase the results of an innovative eight-week partnership with Ward Transport & Logistics.
The project was part of the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Employer-Provided Innovation Challenges (EPIC) program supported by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry to give students hands-on experience tackling real-world business challenges. EPIC connects students to directly to local employers, increasing career awareness and building employability skills while helping businesses and creating a strong Pennsylvania workforce.
The Mount Aloysius students conducted a market analysis and developed recommendations to strengthen Ward’s digital marketing and online presence.
“This partnership is a great example of what happens when Pennsylvania’s business and education communities come together to solve real challenges,” Jon Anzur, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for the PA Chamber, said. “The EPIC program is helping connect employers with emerging talent in meaningful ways – and, most importantly, creating real value for both.”
“As Ward continues to position ourselves as a leader in the transportation and logistics sector, effectively telling our story is a critical piece of our overall strategy,” Bill Ward Jr., President and CEO of Ward Transport & Logistics, said. “These students brought a fresh perspective that challenged us to think differently about how we engage our customers. Their work will directly inform our next steps in refining those efforts.”
John N. McKeegan, President of Mount Aloysius College, highlighted the program’s impact on student learning. “We are thrilled to partner with Ward and the Pennsylvania Chamber on such an exciting initiative,” McKeegan said. “This collaboration provided our students with the kind of experiential learning that bridges the classroom and the workplace. They gained valuable skills while contributing real solutions for a family-owned business headquartered right here in Blair County.”
The EPIC program, led by the U.S. Chamber Foundation and facilitated in Pennsylvania by the PA Chamber, pairs colleges and universities with employers to solve business challenges, foster innovation, and build stronger talent pipelines across the state.
Click here to learn more about the EPIC program and the PA Chamber’s involvement.