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Gerry Hogan is Recognized by STEMflorida

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Robin McGowan (727) 588-4816

 

 

CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE INITIATIVE

to RECEIVE STEMflorida 2010 AWARD  

 

July 26, 2010 – Largo, FL – Today the Pinellas Education Foundation was presented the 2010 Barrier Buster Award from STEMflorida. Gerry Hogan, Chairman and CEO of Canna Capital and Board Member of the Pinellas Education Foundation, is being recognized for successfully advocating to establish Centers of Excellence in Pinellas County high schools.

 

Centers of Excellence offer hands-on learning in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) designed to fully engage and retain students with career relevant studies that prepare a skilled workforce for area businesses. School administrators and instructors at each Center of Excellence are advised by post-secondary school and business partners who review curricula, conduct site visits and work to ensure the programs remain relevant and up to date with industry trending.

 

Since launching the initiative in 2006, 13 Centers of Excellence in 11 Pinellas County High Schools have received Centers of Excellence Certification from the Career Education Board, an independent board of business owners, post-secondary educational institutions, and government leaders.

 

“An additional five schools have programs that have achieved Pre-Center of Excellence status and our target is to have at least one Center of Excellence in every high school,” said Hogan.  “Our purpose is to guide the development of career and technical programs which offer industry certification for high school students and lead to high wage, high skill, in-demand careers in Pinellas County and the state of Florida.”

 

Florida students who are in career academies show increased attendance rates, high scores on FCAT reading and math, increased graduation rates, increased college entrance rates, and earn higher wages than their counterparts who are not part of a career academy, according to a 2007 OPPAGA study. “Mr. Hogan successfully involved both large and small local businesses and established the Centers of Excellence Certification Committee,” said Craig Sher, Chairman of the Pinellas Education Foundation Board of Directors.  “It is appropriate that Gerry will be the first recipient to receive this inaugural year Barrier Buster award.  In doing so the STEMflorida team honors his vision, tenacity and commitment to the children of Pinellas County.”

 

The Career Education Board is co-chaired by Hogan and Michael Lewis, Senior Vice President of Progress Energy Florida.  For more information about Centers of Excellence and the Pinellas Education Foundation please visit www.CentersofExcellence.net or www.pinellaseducation.org.

 

 

The STEMflorida Awards will be presented at the 2010 STEM Business and Education Conference beginning on Sunday, July 25. The award will be presented at a luncheon on Monday, July 26.  For more information about the conference program and registration, please visit www.stemflorida.net.   

The Pinellas Education Foundation is an independent, non-governmental not for profit organization whose mission is to enhance and improve education in Pinellas County Public Schools.

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