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Businesses Partner With Challenge Program

Supporting High School Students in Blair, Bedford Counties

For the 2020-2021 school year, area businesses are participating in, and supporting the implementation of The Challenge Program Inc. (TCP), and workforce development in nine schools across Blair County and six schools across Bedford County.

The Challenge Program Inc.’s mission is to build sustainable business/education partnerships while motivating students to develop the good habits required for success in school and in their future careers. The program is for all students in grades 10, 11 and 12.

TCP, in partnership with businesses, challenged students during the fall of 2020 to compete in TCP’s five incentivized categories that directly link to academic and career success. The categories are Attendance, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), Community Service, Academic Improvement, and Academic Excellence. This year, TCP implemented its motivational messaging and connected students to local businesses utilizing virtual platforms in compliance with COVID-19 guidelines.

The 2020 virtual kick-off presentation included an introduction to TCP’s five award categories and presentations from business partners about careers for each active school. Businesses will continue to engage with students throughout the year in a variety of safe and socially distant work-related activities: video facility tours, virtual classroom “take-over” presentations, social media business partner campaigns, student-led Q&A’s with business representatives and virtual career days.

Supporting businesses for Blair County schools are listed below with their sponsored high schools for the 2020-221 school year:

Altoona Area School District Foundation – Altoona High School; Corle Building Systems – Greater Altoona CTC; Irwin Financial Inc. – Hollidaysburg High School; Keller Engineers Inc. – Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School; M&T Bank – Bellwood-Antis High School; NPC Inc. – Central High School; Reliance Bank – Altoona High School; Sheetz Inc. – Claysburg-Kimmel High School; Sickler, Tarpey & Associates – Tyrone High School; and The Hite Co. – Williamsburg High School.

Supporting businesses for Bedford County schools are listed below with their sponsored high schools for the 2020-21 school year:

Clark Contractors Inc. – Everett High School and Tussey Mountain High School; Corle Building Systems – Bedford High School, Chestnut Ridge High School and Northern Bedford County High School; Gateway Travel Plaza – Bedford County CTC.

 

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