Ranken Technical College Hosts Fourth Annual Adventure Academy Summer Camp

Online, July 18, 2013 (Newswire.com) - With support from the Monsanto Fund, Ranken Technical College is hosting its fourth annual Adventure Academy summer camp for nearly 300 students interested in technology. One of the primary goals of the summer camp is to encourage students to complete high school and continue post-secondary education in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields, as well as encourage parents to help their children achieve academic and career goals.

"The Adventure Academy is helping us 'prime the pipeline' by addressing future workforce deficiencies in our country," says Stan H. Shoun, president of Ranken Technical College. "Oftentimes, students aren't given the opportunity to discover the many careers available to them in technically-advanced fields - assuming they remain in school, graduate, and continue on to post-secondary education. We're working to help change that with programs like the Adventure Academy."

Ranken Technical College's 2013 Adventure Academy takes place over the course of two weeks. This week (July 15 - 19) middle school students fill Ranken classrooms, working on a program from Ranken's five core divisions: automotive, construction, electrical, manufacturing and information technology. A similar program for high schoolers starts next week. Each program - ranging from building go-karts and robotics to wood working and designing jewelry - encourages students to design, create, think and work through hands-on activities. Throughout the week, students will complete a project that they'll showcase for their families on the final day of camp.

Now in its fourth year, Ranken Technical College's Adventure Academy continues to grow and generate more interest from students. The program has also received tremendous support from local area businesses and community organizations, including the Monsanto Fund, Dobbs Tire & Auto Center, Grainger, Nu Way, Kiwanis International, Tomboy Tools, Cardinal Steel Supply, The Herbert A. & Adrian Woods Foundation and Snap-on.

In 2011, The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded Ranken Technical College a three-year, $881,984 grant entitled 'Priming the Pipeline for the St. Louis Region - Creating a Future High Technology Workforce.' It's part of the NSF's Advanced Technological Education Project.

Through the grant, Ranken Technical College has partnered with the Saint Louis Public School System (SLPS), regional businesses and industries and United 4 Children to implement this initiative. The project will replicate, extend, and enhance various 'Priming the Pipeline' projects successfully conducted by other educational institutions. The goal is to present a continuum of educational opportunities for students beginning in middle school through the attainment of at least a two-year Associate Degree and successful job placement in a high technology field or transfer to a four-year Bachelor's Degree program at Ranken or another institution of higher education. The Adventure Academy is one of several initiatives Ranken has implemented to help fulfill this objective.