Summary
Utah Scholars is a business-led initiative. The program encourages students, beginning in the 8th grade, to enroll in a rigorous course of study, with support and incentives from local business leaders and influential community members in each participating area.
Currently, 20 states across the nation are participating in the State Scholars Network, and business involvement is key in every state. Business leaders are brought into the classroom to inform students of the benefits of the program for their future success in higher education and employment.
As Utah Scholars begins during the 2006-2007 school year, we are seeking volunteers from the business community to contribute their time and talents to students in participating districts. This year, Utah Scholars districts are as follows: Granite, Jordan, Park City, and Davis.
We invite you to be a partner in this exciting program. Volunteering in the Utah Scholars program requires only a few hours of your time - but promises a lifetime of rewards in the future for today's students.
Workforce Predictions
Bureau of Labor Statistics projections show that 80% of the top 50 fastest-growing jobs will require education beyond high school and that 40% of all new jobs will require at least an associate's degree. Employers offering jobs that do not require postsecondary education nonetheless seek employees who are proficient in reading, math and science, and who can solve problems, work in teams, and communicate effectively. They look for employees who can learn new skills throughout their lives. Yet a large percentage of high-school students graduate without the solid academic foundation needed to succeed in higher education and the rapidly evolving workplace.
Department of Labor, Bureau of Statistics, 2000. The Outlook for College Graduates, 1998-2008.
Business leaders concerned about the ability of the U.S. workforce to meet the increasingly technological demands of the workplace have been impressed by research that showed that completion of a rigorous course of study increases students likelihood of postsecondary persistence and completion. In fact, students who complete a rigorous course of study earn degrees at twice the rate of those who do not.
U.S. Department of Education, OERI, 1999.
