On opposite sides of the Commonwealth last week, college student cohorts at two Pennsylvania universities presented solutions to challenges faced by employers they had worked alongside during weeks-long projects.
Their projects were tied to 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.
On November 19, students from Mount Aloysius College joined business and community leaders to showcase the results of an innovative eight-week partnership with Ward Transport & Logistics. The Mt. 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 at the event. “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 next day, representatives from the PA Chamber Foundation joined East Stroudsburg University (ESU) students, faculty, and administrators at an event to share the findings of two student-led cohorts that worked to support student and educator engagement in the National Civics Bee Pennsylvania State Finals. The National Civics Bee® is a nonpartisan competition led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation that encourages young Americans to engage in civics, contribute to their communities, and highlight their passion for civics education to their peers.
During the eight-week program, the ESU students developed social media campaigns to encourage middle school students to participate in the competition. To address the challenge from multiple perspectives, the class was divided into two cohorts. The first cohort focused on strategies to engage teachers and encourage them to adopt the curriculum while promoting competition among their students. The second cohort concentrated on marketing directly to middle school students to inspire participation and applications.
The event culminated in a comprehensive paper with solutions and a presentation to an advisory committee of representatives from the PA Chamber Foundation, the U.S. Chamber Foundation, the state Department of Education, and the public relations firm Color & Culture.
“We’re exceptionally proud of these students for their earnest engagement in this program, for sharing a passion for civics education and wanting to inspire young people to be civic leaders,” PA Chamber Marketing Director Rick Moran said at the ESU event. “We’re inspired by their creativity and are grateful to East Stroudsburg University and the U.S. Chamber Foundation for their ongoing partnership in the EPIC program and for continuing to foster the collaboration that needs to exist between educators, employers, and incoming workforce leaders.”
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. It aims to bridge the gap between academic learning and practical application, providing students with valuable skills and experiences that align with Pennsylvania’s job market needs.
Click here to learn more about the EPIC program and the PA Chamber’s involvement.