The Arizona Technology Foundation has been working diligently throughout 2016 connecting the state’s technology industry with our local workforce and STEM education programs. These efforts have helped us define six initiatives for 2017 to strengthen Arizona for the future. These initiatives include:
The Arizona SciTech Festival
The Arizona SciTech Festival is a statewide celebration of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and is held annually in February and March. Through a series of more than 500 expos, workshops, conversations, exhibitions, and tours held in diverse locations across the state, the Arizona SciTech Festival excites and informs attendees on how STEM will drive our state for the future. Spearheaded by the Arizona Technology Council Foundation, the Arizona Commerce Authority, the Arizona Board of Regents, Arizona Science Center, Arizona State University, and the University of Arizona, the Arizona SciTech Festival is a grassroots collaboration of over 500 organizations in industry, academia, arts, civic, community, and K-12 education. azscitech.com.
Middle School and High School Science Bowls
Since 2007, with the support of the Arizona Technology Council Foundation and its sponsors, the Arizona Middle School and High School Science Bowls have been encouraging students to study and pursue careers in the areas of science and technology. These Jeopardy-style team competitions are open to all middle and high school students in AZ and were created by the Arizona Technology Council Workforce Development Committee to encourage a skilled workforce in science and technology to ensure our country’s future success. Learn more here.
Teaching STEM thru Roller-Skating
United Skates of America (USA) has launched a program that combines real world, hands-on, activity-based STEM education with physical fitness. The lessons, taught by experienced educators, help students learn that STEM is found in everyday experiences. The activities relate roller-skating to STEM in a fun and engaging way. USA has partnered with the Arizona Technology Council Foundation to raise donor funds to cover the costs of field trips, allowing all students the opportunity to participate in STEM enrichment regardless of financial constraints. USA offers STEM Field Trip programs at skating rinks across the country. Participating locations in Arizona include Skateland Mesa, Skateland Chandler, and Great Skate in Glendale.
biz in a boxx
If STEM, innovation, and entrepreneurship go hand-in-hand, why don’t we mimic that relationship in the classroom? The Youth Enterprise Venture Fund (YEVF) is designed to marry STEM education and hands-on entrepreneurship activities with an emphasis on innovation to solve real-world problems. By partnering with the Arizona Technology Council Foundation and biz in a boxx, YEVF can develop an entire generation of elementary and middle school students with an entrepreneurial spirit who will shape the Arizona of tomorrow. bizinaboxx.com
Generation Tech Support
An idea developed by a teacher and her students at Shadow Mountain High School in Paradise Valley, Generation Tech Support is a student enterprise with a mission to empower technology students by providing opportunities to advance leadership and business skills, career options, and income levels. The organization also works to provide the public a better understanding of emerging technologies. It is the goal of Generation Tech Support to expand and improve technology services to all communities while teaching students entrepreneurship in a successful working model. gentechsupport.com
CSO Program![]()
The Chief Science Officers (CSO) program is the first of its kind and involves 6-12 grade students being elected as their school’s community liaison, or ‘CSO’ for STEM and innovation. The student then becomes part of a group of CSO student leaders to partake in leadership training, impact STEM activities at their school and local community, and work as a collective cabinet to give input and ideas to STEM leaders across the state. The CSO Program aims to elevate the popularity of STEM at campuses throughout Arizona and to ensure students are a respected voice for STEM within their communities. CSOs are also linked with a ‘SciTech Jedi,’ community and industry mentors, that bring expertise, perspective, support, and guidance. chiefscienceofficers.org
The Arizona Technology Council Foundation, a private 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is offering your company and its employees an opportunity to make a year-end donation towards strategic efforts to improve the talent pipeline in Arizona. Your charitable contributions will allow us to continue to pursue these opportunities and leverage additional resources from inside and outside the Council to achieve these goals. We look forward to our future.
Donations are accepted via check (please address to Arizona Technology Council Foundation, 2800 N Central Ave, Ste 1920, Phoenix, AZ, 85004), or can be made easily through our PayPal account here.