Urgent Need For Mentors at Tacoma High Schools

The Hometown Mentor Program through the College Success Foundation recruits college-educated mentors from local communities to support and offer guidance to low-income high school seniors in Tacoma as they prepare for college. 

The program has an urgent need for mentors at 3 Tacoma high schools (Foss, Mt. Tahoma and Stadium). Mentors must be at least 21 years old.

Click here for a link with more info about the program and volunteer opportunity including the application.  Please consider this rewarding volunteer experience and contact Keith Stier-Van Essen at kstier.vanessen@collegesuccessfoundation.org if you have more questions.

Use Your Network to Refer a Student to YEA!

The Chamber is proud to offer a unique program in entrepreneurial education for high school students. The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!), now entering its 1st year in Tacoma and its tenth  year nationwide, is an intensive six-month program that teaches middle and high school students how to start and run their own REAL businesses and social movements.

Students are guided through each step of starting an enterprise, from brainstorming the idea to pitching their business plan to investors. Classroom learning is anchored by real-world applications, such as submitting DBAs to the County Clerk’s Office, opening bank accounts, filing tax returns, and earning real profits at a trade show.

 

Business leaders have insights on students who are passionate about business and would excel in the YEA! program. Please consider encouraging creative, motivated students to apply. Qualified students are those who have a strong work ethic and demonstrate high levels of effort on a consistent basis. Although prior experience in business is not required, students should have a strong interest in business and/or starting their own company or social movement. We encourage you to share information about the Academy with any student that you know that might be interested.

 

You may also have friends, colleagues and staff that might know students who would be interested in applying. Please feel free to share the information with those individuals as well.

 

The deadline for returning the completed YEA! application and scholarship application is Thursday, December 5, 2013. The Academy will notify the students who are accepted into the Class of 2014 by Tuesday, December 24.

 

Please note, scholarships are available and are selected based on the student’s application, letter of recommendation, student written statement, personal interview, and financial need.

 

For questions about student eligibility or the student selection procedures, contact the Chamber’s office at 253.682.1726 or yea@tacomachamber.org. Thank you for your support.

Chamber Supports TPS as Charter Schools Authorizer

Last night, the Tacoma School (TPS) Board agreed to notify the Washington State Board of Education of its interest in becoming a charter school authorizer.

The Chamber supports the TPS Board in its action to become an authorizer, as it also supported the successful adoption of I-1240, the state-wide initiative for charter schools.

Next, the TPS Board has until October 1 to submit intent letters with full applications due December 31. (click on image for a larger view)

Vote for TPS Prop 1 Now!

The Pierce County Auditor reported today that based on the number of ballots turned in so far, Tacoma Public Schools Proposition 1 may not get enough total votes submitted to validate the election. As of this morning, only about 25,000 voters have turned in their ballots.

At least 35,733 must turn in or mail in their ballots by the 8 p.m. deadline tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 12. Help spread the word to your friends and family and remind them to vote.

Find out what Tacoma Public Schools Proposition 1 means for your child's school.