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Rose-Hulman and Shelby County Join Forces on Economic Development and Educational Initiative
October 4, 2012
by Dale Long
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New vistas open up for Shelbyville student
- getting an early start in
engineering through Rose-Hulman's Operation
Catapult summer program for
high school juniors. |
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Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology has announced a partnership
with Shelby County and the City of Shelbyville to initiate an
economic development model that will assist in the creation of
home-grown entrepreneurial talent, educate future innovators, and
attract manufacturing- and technology-based businesses.
City and county officials recently approved $186,000 to support
the Innovative
Model: Positioning Communities for Transformation (IMPaCT
2016) program, beginning this fall. Goals are to help
attract talent and business to Shelby County, while partnering with
the expertise of Rose-Hulman, the undergraduate education
institution that specializes in engineering, science, and
mathematics.
"The City of Shelbyville is excited about this innovative
economic development collaboration that bridges the gap between
industry and education," stated Shelbyville Mayor Tom DeBaun. "This
partnership will allow our youth to be exposed to the educational
and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) at the nation's number one engineering school.
At the same time, it will allow our businesses to tap into the
expertise of some of the best engineering minds in the state."
Rose-Hulman President Robert A. Coons added, "The challenges
facing communities and academia require solutions that blend
technological and problem-solving know-how with entrepreneurial
resourcefulness and responsiveness. It is in this spirit that
Rose-Hulman, Shelby County, and the City of Shelbyville have become
partners. Our students and faculty embrace real-world challenges
while assisting our state."
IMPaCT 2016 components include increasing the number of Shelby
County students acquiring the skills necessary to achieve
STEM-related college degrees. Rose-Hulman's Operation
Catapult summer campus program will expose Shelby
County high-school students who have completed their junior year to
engineering and applied science through project work. Meanwhile,
the EMERGE tele-mentoring program will connect Rose-Hulman students
with Shelby County ninth-grade students to enhance career awareness
and academic achievement.
The Shelby County Entrepreneurial Internship Program will
inspire innovation and economic development, positioning Shelby
County as an attractive location to work and live. This program
will offer opportunities for Rose-Hulman students to gain
industrial experience and continue developing their professional
skills.
"Development of an educated workforce is a key strategic goal to
help grow the Shelby County economy," said Chris King,
past-president of the Shelby County Development Corporation. "Our
partnership with Rose-Hulman holds great promise to help our young
people realize opportunities in STEM related careers, provide
assistance for their development, and support local companies in
hiring incredible engineering talent."
Other aspects of the program will establish an entrepreneurial
network that connects Shelby County industry, academic, and
government leadership with Rose-Hulman alumni, faculty, leadership,
students, staff, and supporters. These resource-sharing
relationships will promote innovation in education and economic
development.
Project managers and student interns at Rose-Hulman Ventures
will help Shelby County companies solve technology challenges in
the innovation-stage of development. This innovation-based economic
partnership will launch the next generation of technical leaders
for success throughout the county, and allow Rose-Hulman to provide
continuing and professional studies programs at the Intelliplex in
Shelbyville.
"Our partnership with Rose-Hulman has the potential to be
a game-changer for Shelby County and the community's ability to
retain, grow, and attract manufacturing- and technology-based
companies," states King, a Shelby County native who is a 2002
Rose-Hulman civil engineering graduate.
Learn more about IMPaCT 2016.