The second in this series, introduces SCOIR and how to know your career interests and aptitudes.

Direct Employers Institute’s offers three types of programs to introduce students in high school to STEM careers.

STEM YES!
This summer program provides students who are low-income, from underrepresented groups, and have disabilities, the opportunity to gain hands-on project-based experiences and workplace learning opportunities with local employers to prepare them to enter high wage careers in STEM and explore business practices with local employers.

During each session, students develop competencies in teamwork, business planning, presentation skills, social etiquette, soft skills and career, and college preparation, while exploring and learning about the various fields that STEM has to offer. Job shadowing (at sites such as Eli Lilly, Salesforce, Duke Realty, Dow AgroSciencews, IUPUI Forensic Science and more), research, projects, information technology, and more opportunities are included!

Job Shadows and Internships

An important part of the organization’s mission is to arrange for local employers to provide one-day to one-week job shadowing opportunities, predominantly for students in grades 8-10, and one to two semester-long internship experiences for students in grades 11 and 12.

Workplace Simulation Program

The Workplace Simulation Program is a project in which we bring central and southern Indiana employers and schools together to show underrepresented and underexposed students what a career in STEM looks like. This program allows the students to apply their classroom learning to a real STEM problem during school hours and under the guidance and mentorship of STEM professionals

What is Direct Employers Institute?

DirectEmployers Institute is a nonprofit organization that enables middle and high school students to explore STEM careers with Central Indiana employers. With a focus on serving Central Indiana students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged due to underrepresentation or disabilities, the foundation’s mission is to inspire and prepare the next generation to meet the needs of a more diverse global workforce.

Read more about programs at the institute at  directemployersfoundation.org .

Did you know?…”Speech-language pathologists and audiologists are in high demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for speech pathologists between 2014-2024 includes a 21% increase with a median salary of $73,410. The predicted outlook for audiologists is a 29% increase with a median salary of $74,890. Speech-language pathologists work in a wide range of settings including schools, clinics, assisted living centers, and hospitals.” – Keith Kluender, Head of the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at Purdue University.

If you would like to learn more about these programs at Purdue, visit http://www.purdue.edu/hhs/slhs. If you would like to schedule a visit, attend a class, meet with an academic advisor, or chat with a current student, please contact Kamie Redinbo at kredinb@purdue.edu.

• Explore www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org –it’s free!
• ‘Explore Careers’: Find a career that interests you!
• ‘Explore Colleges’: Learn about colleges across the country!
• Helpful High School Courses: Choose classes that go with a college major!
• Explore the Quick How To Guide!