YMCA, My School Tech Hub and Volusia-UCF Business Incubator deploy coding, technology classes at Summer Camp for Elementary, Middle School Kids
Daytona Beach, fla — My School Tech Hub and the Volusia County–UCF Business Incubator in partnership with the Volusia-Flagler YMCA are on a mission to bridge the technology skills gap by bringing to local students coding, robotics and rapid prototyping classes in a fun and inspiring atmosphere.
Jim Beckmann, CEO of My School Tech Hub, said a pilot project began this week at the Port Orange YMCA for elementary and middle school age students. The company plans to expand and introduce similar STEM ED opportunities for the upcoming 2016-2017 school year locally and then eventually throughout the state.
Connie Bernal, associate director of the Volusia County-University of Central Florida Business Incubator, which supports and mentors startup businesses, says
“In the next five to ten years, the internet of things and product design will be among the leading skills needed to compete for the best jobs. Developing these skills early with our future generations coupled with job re training will improve the quality of our local workforce and ignite added employment and investment that can result in increasing wages. Because of that, the UCF Business Incubator in Volusia County will provide short-term classes that prepare future job seekers and young people to find jobs in computer and information technologies. This approach has already been recognized with grants from Career Source Flagler/Volusia and a private foundation to support these initiatives.”
Kathryn Neel, chief technical officer of Campus Scientific, Inc., the parent of My School Tech Hub, said one of our big differentiators and competitive advantage is our proprietary technology.
Our “Classroom in a Box” platform enables us to bring our own portable computer systems (servers, software, laptops and internet) without relying on our host for any special equipment or connectivity. This makes it easy for any school, non-profit or other location, to host our line of STEM ED courses without any capital expense which makes it a win-win.
Teresa Rand, CEO of the Volusia-Flagler YMCA, said every year they continue to put learning opportunities into their summer camp programs.
“This year we are incredibly excited that we are offering hands-on learning in the STEM world thanks to Jim Beckmann’s company along with Connie Bernal and the Incubator’s resources. We’re thrilled to be part of the initiative to grow jobs in Volusia County,” said Rand.
Austin Albro, vice president of My School Tech Hub and recent graduate of Daytona State College, said the company anticipates offering programs in the very near future for parents to enroll their children, and they will make scholarships or subsidies available to those in need to ensure the program is inclusive for everyone.
The company is accepting applications from educators to add to its highly-qualified leadership team that include A former MIT professional, a Daytona State professor with a PhD in Engineering, an intern from Embry-Riddle, and an electrical engineer who taught at a private school in Miami.
In addition to Mobile App development, additional subjects that will be introduced will include but are not limited to 3D Modeling and Maker Lab, Weather and Instrumentation, Virtual Reality, Robotics, Engineering and Sports Science.
“We are grateful to the Volusia/Flagler YMCA for the partnership and look forward to working with other like-minded community leaders and stakeholders to help grow the initiative,” said Beckmann.
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For more information about this release, please contact:
Connie Bernal, Associate Director Volusia County-UCF Business Incubator – 386-872-3100
Beth Payan or Larry Vershel, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142, lvershelco@aol.com
About the UCF Business Incubation Program
The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program is a community resource that provides early-stage companies with the tools, training and infrastructure to become financially stable, high growth / impact enterprises. Since 1999, this award-winning program has helped hundreds of local startup companies reach their potential faster by providing vital business development resources. With seven facilities throughout the region, the UCF Business Incubation Program is an economic development partnership between the University of Central Florida, the Corridor, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties, and the cities of Apopka, Kissimmee, Orlando and Winter Springs. Participating companies sustain more than 3,600 local jobs and have had a total impact of $1.51 billion on regional sales and $2.48 billion on regional economic output. During the last fiscal year, the program has returned $7.95 for every $1.00 invested in the program.
