Future Focused

Welcome to the 2024-25 Future Focused Newsletter. This is your go-to space for inspiration, career insights, and valuable resources to help you succeed. Whether you're seeking guidance, learning new skills, or questioning what you want to do after high school, this newsletter is designed to foster a sense of confident decision making and growth. Stay tuned for exciting updates, tips, and career readiness opportunities as we work together toward a bright future!

A native of Chicago, Clarence “Skip” Ellis was the first African-American to earn a Ph.D. in computer science (he earned this degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1969). While studying, Ellis worked on hardware, software, and the development of ILLIAC IV supercomputer. He had a long career at major tech companies like Bell Telephone Laboratories, IBM, Xerox, and more. At the Palo Alto Research Center where he worked from 1976 to 1984, Ellis spearheaded a group that invented Officetalk. It was the first office system to use icons and ethernet to allow people to collaborate from a distance. Ellis was a real pioneer in this field of operational transformation (examining the functionality in collaborative systems), which is found in computer applications today like Google Docs.

February 3 * National Women Physicians Day

February 3-7 * National School Counseling Week

February 5 * National Weatherperson's Day

February 11 * National Inventors Day

February 15 * School Resource Officers Day

February 16-22 * National Entrepreneurship Week

February 23 * National Hospitality Workers Appreciation Day

MAT² Apprenticeship Program invites high school seniors to Henry Ford College for an Interview Day to learn about apprenticeship opportunities on March 22, 2025, 9:30am-2pm at the Henry Ford College M-TEC Building. Prospective apprentices will hear from network companies, including Brose, SW Machines, EMAG and Durr Systems. Those interested will have the chance to do short interviews with company representatives. Parents/legal guardians are welcome to attend. Click here to register.

Oakland County is currently seeking a Student Assistant to support their Health Education team in developing, implementing, and evaluating health education and promotion programs. In this role, scholars will assist with the creation and deployment of agency communications, as well as conduct research to gather relevant information and resources. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age. Click here for more information.

The Farmington Hills Special Services Division is currently hiring Lifeguards for all of the city pools. This is an exciting opportunity to learn life saving skills. Applicants must be at least 15 years of age. Click here for more information.

McLaren Macomb is proud to offer a job shadowing/career observation experience for prospective healthcare students ages 16 and above to gain the experience to observe health-care employees in a workplace setting. Job shadows are typically only available Monday through Friday and are designed to be a one-time observation only for two (2) hours. Click here for more information and here to apply.

The Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner's office is excited to offer job shadowing opportunities for interested persons, ages 16 and older, who are entering or actively participating in the workforce. This unique opportunity provides participants with the opportunity to observe a WRC employee performing their daily work routine in their environment. Their mission is to excite potential candidates about a career in the water industry by allowing them to explore a realistic picture of the tasks performed for a specific job. Participants will receive an official certificate of completion at the end of the job shadow. Submit Your Request for a Job Shadow

Skilled trades offer excellent career options with good pay and great opportunities. These in-demand jobs are in industries like healthcare, IT, manufacturing, construction, and automotive. In Michigan, employers are looking to fill over 520,000 skilled trades jobs, with 45,000 new openings each year. Click here for a helpful resource with more information on career paths, schools, and average salaries.

In celebration of last month's CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists) Week, we’re thrilled to have Mr. Lim lead an inspiring workshop on Monday, February 3rd during Seminar in the Media Center for University K-12 students in Grades 8-12. He’ll be sharing his personal journey and experience as a CRNA. Don’t miss out—come ready to learn and be motivated! Please use this link to sign up!

To celebrate National Women Physicians Day, we’re excited to have Dr. Ebony Featherstone lead a fun and inspiring workshop on Friday, February 7th during Seminar, in the Media Center for University K-12 students in Grades 8-12. She’ll share her journey to becoming a doctor, what it takes to work in medicine, and give you some motivation to follow your own dreams. Don’t miss out – come ready to learn and be inspired! Please use this link to sign up.

Educators Rising is a community­ based movement designed to support middle and high school students interested in pursuing a career in education. Educators Rising is excited to announce its first annual conference on March 12th at Wayne State University. Click here for more information.

The National Geographic Society is asking 13-18 year-olds to join the Slingshot Challenge and submit a 1-minute video describing their idea for solving environmental issues for a chance to receive up to $10,000 in funding. By joining the Slingshot Challenge, educators will receive resources, opportunities to meet with National Geographic Explorers, and regular updates to help students submit their one-minute video. Submissions are due February 7, 2025. Click here for more information.

NASA's Power to Explore Student Challenge invites K-12 students to dream up a new space mission powered by a Radioisotope Power System (RPS) to any moon in our solar system. The writing contest is open to individual students attending U.S. public, private, charter, or home schools – including those in U.S. territories and schools operated by the U.S. for American personnel overseas. Forty-five semifinalists will receive an RPS prize pack, nine finalists will receive an exclusive virtual session with a NASA expert, and three winners will be awarded a trip for two to NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Every student who enters will receive an invitation to a virtual event with NASA experts to learn about what powers the NASA workforce to dream big and explore. In solidarity with the families affected by the natural disasters and extreme weather conditions across the nation, the deadline has been extended from January 31, 2025 to February 9, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Click here for more information.

The 2025 Science Without Borders Challenge is now open! This year’s theme is “Marine Keystone Species.” Keystone species play a crucial role in keeping ocean ecosystems healthy and balanced. To apply for this international art contest, students should submit artwork featuring a keystone species that lives in the ocean, highlighting this creature’s vital role in its marine ecosystem. The challenge is open to all students worldwide who are 11-19 years old. Deadline is March 3, 2025. Click here for more information.

The 2025 President Gerald R. Ford Student Writing Challenge is now accepting submissions from 9-12th grade students in the United States to compete for a top prize of $2,500. To enter, write a 500-750 word essay on the theme: In your life, what has prepared you to follow Gerald Ford’s example of answering the call to serve, especially if the call is unexpected? Submissions will be accepted through March 14, 2025, 5 PM EDT. Click here for more information.

Bulldog Pitch Competition at the College of Business at Ferris State University:

• February 14, 2025: Initial submissions due (online)

• March 7, 2025: Finalists notified and invited to on-campus pitch event

• April 11, 2025: On-campus pitch event

• High school students are invited to forms teams of 1-5 to work on a business startup idea

• Teams submit the application form and 2-minute explainer video by February 14

• Finalist teams will be notified by March 7 and invited to Pitch Event in Big Rapids on April 11

• Finalist teams prepare their 10-minute pitch and slide deck and pitch to a jury of entrepreneurs and faculty on April 11

• Finalist teams will receive feedback on their startup ideas from jury

• First, second, and third place teams win prizes!

• All finalist teams will have opportunities to enjoy other on-campus activities.

• For more information click here.

• Sign-up to receive pitch competition details and resources.

The Oakland County Acorn2Oak program offers grants to young individuals ages 8-18 who are passionate about making a difference. This initiative is designed to help youth bring their business ideas, community projects, educational goals, and extracurricular pursuits to life. Applicants can receive grants of up to $1,000 to support business development, community impact, educational achievements, and extracurricular activities. However, funds cannot be used for tuition, ongoing expenses, sporting equipment, or team registration fees. Don't miss out – the application deadline for this cycle is March 15th! Click here for more information.

The Michigan Health Sciences Pre-College Exposure Academy (SPEA) is a free, hybrid program. SPEA is intended for highly motivated high school students in the 10th or 11th grade. Students gain exposure to University of Michigan healthcare professionals. The SPEA curriculum is aligned with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Core Competencies, which are fundamental to preparing students to be healthcare professionals. Program dates are Monday, July 7, 2025 to Friday, August 1, 2025. The application window will close on Friday, February 7, 2025 at 11:59 pm. Click here for more information and here to apply.

Join Girls Who Code's virtual Summer Programs and embark on an exciting coding adventure! Whether you choose the immersive, fast-paced Summer Immersion Program (SIP) or the flexible Pathways option, you'll gain coding skills, make lifelong friends, and connect with industry mentors.

• Summer Immersion Program (SIP): A two-week live, virtual experience where you’ll create games and gain career insights. Students can apply for a $300 SIP grant , plus laptop and hotspot access.
• Pathways: A self-paced, six-week program focused on AI, cybersecurity, and more, with real-world projects and pro insights. Applications are open and only available for students ages 14-18. Apply by February 26 for priority consideration. Applications close on April 11, 2025. No fees—just fun and learning! Click here for more information and here to apply.

Wolverine Pathways is a pre-college program for residents of Detroit and Southfield. The goal of the program is to help students prepare for higher education. Graduates of the program who are also accepted to the University of Michigan will receive a full tuition scholarship. The application for the program is open and is only available for 6th and 9th-grade students. The application window will close on February 28, 2025. For more information and the application, please click here.

Michigan State University’s College of Education invites current 10th and 11th graders to apply to one of two highly selective, residential, pre-college programs. These programs are committed to cultivating and increasing diversity in the fields of Education and Kinesiology by recruiting students from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. The program dates are June 15, 2025 – June 28, 2025.

Both residential programs are hosted on the campus of Michigan State University and are intended to increase college preparation and readiness, as well as nurture an interest in careers in Education, particularly Urban Education, and Kinesiology. The applications close on Friday, April 25, 2025,

at 5 pm so apply today! Click here for more information on how to apply.

Calling all Class of 2026 all-stars! Harper Academy 4 Future Nuclear Engineers is a summer program (July 6 - August 1, 2025) hosted by the University of Michigan (U of M) for high achieving high school students matriculating into their senior year. The program will be held on campus and is designed to assist participants prepare for college life as a nuclear engineering college freshman. The program will pay cohorts a $2,800 stipend and could ultimately lead to a career fighting global greenhouse emissions as a nuclear engineer. The early application intake period deadline is January 31, with April 30, 2025 being the deadline for all applications - on a first come first served basis. Click here for more information. Click here for the application.

Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) offers opportunities for students to build STEM knowledge at U.S. Army labs. Click here for High School Internships, and Click here for all programs.

Many colleges offer summer camps, but don’t wait too long to sign up—Summer Enrichment programs often fill up quickly and have upcoming registration deadlines. This is a great opportunity for students to explore their career interests and visit college campuses. Whether you're looking for options nearby or across the country, here are more opportunities to get you started!

Career exploration consultations are now underway and will continue throughout the school year. This month also marks the beginning of our Career Readiness workshops, covering topics like resume building, interview skills, branding, and networking. Be on the lookout for details about our Career Week events in March. Don’t forget to stop by the library to check out the bulletin board highlighting diverse career pathways to help support your post-graduation planning!

Mrs. Foster

Career and Education Navigator

University K-12 Academy

Library Office

Phone: 248-450-3057

autumn.foster@southfieldk12.org

Click Here to schedule a meeting with me