NaviGo College and Career Prep Services, a division of Children, Inc., recently held its annual NaviGo Scholars Kickoff at Thomas More University. The 255 newly selected NaviGo Scholars had the chance to meet their NaviGo Coaches and business sponsors for the first time.
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) met their inaugural NaviGo Scholars group. Lindsay Wiggins, HR Associate at CVG was impressed by her initial interaction with the students.
“What was especially gratifying was that, during the introductions, each student gave very specific answers as to why they wanted to be part of the NaviGo/CVG cohort. While some students shared their aspirations to be pilots or flight attendants, others were looking for different roles such as aircraft mechanics. One student even asked if I would help him find a job at the end of the program, to which I responded, “Absolutely!”
Wiggins said she looking forward to welcoming the CVG Scholars students to the airport as they pursue what’s next for their lives and careers.
NaviGo Scholars is a unique opportunity for high school students to explore, network, and gain hands-on training in the fields they plan to pursue after high school.
For NaviGo business sponsors, it’s a chance to guide, train, and connect with potential future employees.
Jerry Beerman, Owner of Alluring Glass is another first-time sponsor for NaviGo Scholars.
“From a small business owner’s standpoint, your sustainability is predicated on your ability to recruit, train, and retain young talent,” he said. “In order to inspire and influence the next generation, you must connect with and understand them. As a business leader, what better way to understand the culture of the next generation than by entering into a coaching mentoring relationship with them?”
The 2019 NaviGo Scholars business sponsors include Alluring Glass, Building Industry Association of Northern Kentucky, Children, Inc., Cutter Construction, CVG, Duke Energy, Kokosing Construction Company, Milacron, Salmon P. Chase Inn of Court, St. Elizabeth Healthcare, St. Elizabeth Physicians, Toyota, and U.S. Bank.
At each of these companies, students will be exploring careers in airport operations, construction, cybersecurity, early childhood education, engineering, entrepreneurship, healthcare, hospitality, law, logistics, manufacturing, organizational leadership, and urban planning.
“NaviGo Scholars is a great way to have a captive audience of high school students. It is a no-brainer opportunity that is low risk and high reward,” said Beerman.
The NaviGo Scholars program will run from October through March. These students meet six times with their business sponsor and six times with their NaviGo Coach throughout the course of the school year. Over the last five years, 843 high school students have been selected as NaviGo Scholars. Collectively, these students have participated in 5058 work-based learning experiences at local companies.
For more information on NaviGo Scholars, please visit navigoprep.org.
