Tech Parks Arizona Wins Education Outreach Award
Tech Parks Arizona has won the Metropolitan Education Commission’s (MEC) Crystal Apple Award for its efforts to encourage local youth to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Tech Parks Arizona has collaborated with area educators since its inception in 1994, and has been growing its educational outreach efforts steadily over the years.
Through a creative partnership between Vail School District and the UA Tech Park, Vail High School, a small public charter school focused on science and technology, was launched in the early 1990’s and was the first school to be located in a university related research park. The school was such a success, it expanded to include grades K-8 providing a consistent educational foundation and the development of vast knowledge around important concepts. Vail School District and the Tech Park have developed innovative programs that offer students real-world business experienceincluding internships, part-time employment, research projects and workshops with park engineers and scientists. The Park also supports the Vail Robotics Team, which competes annually in the First Robotics Program, a nation-wide competition for grades 9-12. UA Tech Park is proud to be home to Vail Academy and High School, which was recently named 2014 A+ School of Excellence by the Arizona Educational Foundation...