PA CYBER- U can B
U can B taught at East Liberty, Erie, Wexford, Allentown, Philadelphia, and Harrisburg. Each Thursday from 3 to 4 p.m. over a 15-week period that began Jan. 15, participants gathered at seven PA Cyber support centers and satellite offices across the state for live, interactive online sessions on specific topics including entrepreneurship, website and graphic design, government and politics, jobs in the “green” sector, film, and trade careers. The live online sessions in this series originated from PA Cyber’s office in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty business district. They were streamed using Google software to offices at Greensburg, Erie, Wexford, Allentown, Philadelphia, and Harrisburg. Hissam and Brian Boothby, a facilitator in the gifted-talented program, are simultaneously streamed the sessions to other PA Cyber students at home on their laptops, using the same Collaborate meeting software students use to attend their regular PA Cyber virtual classes. In the second session, for example, Tom Kubilius of Bally Designs of Pittsburgh explained what entrepreneurship is, what entrepreneurs have in common, choices to be made in starting a business, creating a business plan, what a small business looks like, and why having a passion for what you do is important. Jill Valentine, Director of Admissions and Marketing, 724.888-7814,...
U can B – Career Program
What is an entrepreneur? What choices do I have for my future career? How do I go about starting my own business? Is there anyone out there that can talk to me and guide me in the right direction? These are all great questions that have been asked by many middle and high school students. Now they have a way to figure out the answers. “U Can B” is a customizable 8, 15, or 24 week career/leadership program designed and operated by Building Bridges for Business, a Pittsburgh based non-profit. The program has been educating 7th through 12th graders for the past two years and is now available statewide in partnership with the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School. Using the “Coffee With” film series on CBS/KDKA, in-person lectures and “Power Trips” with individuals in leadership positions, students are able to connect with vital business resources. They are learning that thinking outside the box is a good thing. According to a February 3, 2015, article at Forbes.com, “young people are gravitating to entrepreneurship. The most active early-stage entrepreneurs around the world are 25 to 35 years old”. This innovative program is a starting point for many of these young people by educating and empowering them to follow their passion. “U Can B” challenging the students to think about what choices are available to them and what it will take for them to succeed. For additional information on the “U Can B” program or to find out how you can add the “U Can B” program to your school, please contact...
U can B – Teaching 7th – 12 grade students is Statewide
State’s ‘U Can B’ program expands through Cyber Charter School The “U Can B” program is available for the first time to middle and high school students statewide through a partnership with the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, according to a recent announcement from the school. The program puts middle and high school students in direct contact with Pittsburgh business, community and government leaders. It is operated by Building Bridges for Business, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit that launched in 2010. “The ‘U Can B’ program was previously available to school districts in and around Pittsburgh, but this is the first time they’ve offered it through an online school and the first time for it to be available statewide,” Pennsylvania Cyber’s Gifted and Talented Program Director Mike Hissam said. The organization uses methods including one-on-one conversations with experts; its “Coffee With” film series on CBS/KDKA; in-person lectures and “Power Trip” meetings with visits to Google offices; the Energy Innovation Center; and trips to CBS/KDKA studios and Pittsburgh City Hall. Participating Pennsylvania Cyber students have been chosen to participate through the school’s regional offices, from the gifted-talented and related STAR programs, the DECA business club, the School of Engineering and the National Honor Society chapter. The “U Can B” program meets every Thursday from 3-4 p.m. over a 15-week period that began Jan. 15. Sessions also are streamed to Pennsylvania Cyber students participating at home. Hissam added that participation in the program will remain open through the semester to all Pennsylvania Cyber students in grades nine through 12 and to all seventh- and eighth-grade students taking high school...
