REACH FOR NEW HEIGHTS

By Page Grossman

The two universities and one school district featured here are helping learners seek new outcomes and get the educational tools they need to succeed.

The university of New Mexico’s unparalleled educational opportunities open doors to more than just a world-class education. UNM has a mission to serve, and by teaching and advancing the brightest minds, UNM’s students, faculty, and alumni— proud members of the Lobo pack—create opportunities for jobs, discovery, social growth, and more. This isn’t just a university—UNM is a critical driver of economic and social prosperity for the state and region.

As the state’s flagship university, sharing knowledge and discovering “the next” alongside other leaders of educational and technological exploration is a part of its institutional DNA. In fact, UNM has three national laboratories within 100 miles of its 600-acre main campus in Albuquerque. This proximity allows University departments, programs, and centers to collaborate on research with some of the most cuttingedge institutions in the world. These partnerships and the experience they provide create countless opportunities for UNM’s students and researchers. Students not only acquire knowledge, but also have the freedom to create it.

Likewise, many Lobos choose to shape the future at the Innovation Academy, a place where students harness ingenuity into entrepreneurship. Through a partnership with the Rainforest Student Pitch Competition for business ideas, this program has generated 29 student startups. UNM’s technology transfer and economic development arm, STC.UNM, has spun off 130-plus startup companies, creating millions of dollars in labor income for local workers.

Other opportunities at UNM are for future leaders. Take, for example, a video chat between New Mexico school children and NASA astronaut Christina Koch—live from the International Space Station. UNM biology professor David Hanson wanted to encourage students of all ages to explore STEM-based education. By connecting NASA with UNM, he gave 500 young minds an out-of-this-world chance to talk to an astronaut.

Lobos create a collaborative environment unlike any other. In this place where cultures and perspectives merge, some of academia’s top minds are making the impossible possible. At UNM, opportunity isn’t simply found—it’s created.

When most people think of education at the university level, they think of learners specializing in specific areas of study, covering basics in education and learning skills like research. Located in High Point, North Carolina, High Point University thinks of education as so much more and prides itself on being “the Premier Life Skills University.”

One of the things needed to become a high-ranking university is investment. Already, HPU has invested $2 billion in academic programs and has added six academic schools, two student centers, 10 residential communities, a 4,500- seat basketball arena, and a conference center and hotel. HPU has also put $250 million into STEM-focused faculty, technology, and facilities.

As impressive as that is, there’s another $1 billion investment planned for the next decade. To take HPU to the next level, the university will be investing $700 million in scholarships focused on firstgeneration students, diversity, academic excellence, and veterans. The other $300 million will be used to construct a new library, academic facilities, admissions center, and a Division I ice hockey complex.

As the Premier Life Skills University, HPU not only offers but also requires the President’s Seminar on Life Skills for all freshman students. This course helps students develop skills in communication, networking, coachability, fiscal literacy, and community service. These life skills aren’t just important to HPU; employers also rank them as being critical in the workplace.

HPU not only prepares students academically; it also prepares them to be successful in life. Academic coursework is complemented by life skills training and experiential learning programs such as internships, research, global education, and service learning. With 97 percent of graduates employed or continuing their education within six months of graduation, HPU’s success is clear.

For the last eight years, HPU has been ranked the No. 1 Best Regional College in the South by U.S. News & World Report. And considering HPU’s continuing investment in well-rounded students who are academically focused and taught necessary life skills, there’s no reason to think that will change.

although so much focus is placed on higher education and universities, what’s happening at the ground level in K–12 education is just as important. There are few who know this better than Nevada’s Clark County School District, the fifth-largest school district in the United States. With more than 320,000 students, which constitutes 75 percent of the students in Nevada, CCSD works hard to train and hire the best educators for their students.

To support their students, CCSD has hired 1,500 highly qualified teachers in the last year. And they’re looking to hire even more. For those interested in working with this school district, there are so many opportunities—and not only as a teacher. There are openings for teacher leaders, support professionals, administrators, bus drivers, food service workers, and more.

To make it even better, you don’t have to already have a teaching degree. CCSD can help you combine teaching with your passion for your area of expertise. CCSD offers its ALTA program, or Accelerated Licensure Teacher Academy, a 10-week teacher training program for those who already hold a degree but don’t yet have their teaching certification. The program is low-cost and offers scholarships and opportunities for those who may not be able to pay up front.

CCSD is always growing and looking for the best and the brightest to be the support system behind their students. Everyone has had that one special person who supported and encouraged them to learn as a child—through CCSD, you can become that person for Nevada’s future leaders.