Something exciting is happening at Conway High School this school year, and it could make a difference beyond the classroom.
3DE by Junior Achievement is a new program for students that provides a clearer connection between what they’re learning today and where it can take them tomorrow.
The Conway High School program is the first of its kind in South Carolina and brings together local businesses to provide a "school within a school." Participating students will learn from real-world business challenges, working together to solve problems, present ideas and apply what they're learning in subjects like math, English and social studies.
Partnership Grand Strand (PGS), through an educational foundation grant, and numerous local businesses are supporting the program. A ribbon-cutting was held on Aug. 18, the day before school started, to celebrate the collaborative effort.
PGS and Horry County Schools have already collaborated on efforts that introduce employers to Career and Technical Education programs and create opportunities for job shadowing, internships and employment after graduation. 3DE takes that connection a step further by bringing businesses directly into the learning process.
Conway Medical Center serves as the presenting sponsor for Conway High School, with Conway Medical Center, McLeod Health and Palmetto Corporation among the case partners. Anderson Brothers, CCNB, Hadwin White, HTC and Santee Cooper are also among the supporting sponsors.
The program is set to enter North Myrtle Beach High School as well as other schools through local community support. A local business can give students a business challenge and ask them to develop a solution. Employees can share their expertise, listen to student presentations and provide feedback. Students get exposure to careers and industries they may never have considered, while businesses get the opportunity to meet the young people who could someday become their employees, customers, entrepreneurs and community leaders.
And participation doesn't have to mean a massive commitment. Businesses of different sizes and from different industries have something valuable to contribute. Hospitality, health care, construction, technology, finance, manufacturing, retail, professional services and small businesses all offer students a different window into how the working world operates.
The more diverse the businesses involved, the more students can see just how many opportunities exist right here at home.
Nationally, the 3DE model shows encouraging results, including strong graduation rates and high levels of optimism among participating students. Those numbers are promising, but the real opportunity is what can happen when we pair this model with a business community willing to show up.
