WHEREAS, the Students@Work initiative is celebrating 12 years of offering nearly 274,000 North Carolina public school students the chance to connect classroom learning with careers they may choose to explore in the future; and
WHEREAS, Students@Work is a partnership between the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the North Carolina Business Committee for Education; and
WHEREAS, this program aims to bridge the gap between many North Carolina students and the fascinating careers available within their local communities and across the state; and
WHEREAS, the Students@Work initiative enhances the traditional classroom curriculum with real-world visibility that is needed to adequately prepare students for the global and rapidly changing economy; and
WHEREAS, hundreds of North Carolina businesses are helping to expand perspectives for future job seekers; and
WHEREAS, job exposure is a critical first step in integrating work-based learning into the lives of North Carolina students, adding relevancy to their classrooms, helping them to successfully navigate career pathways, and ensuring that North Carolina is Job Ready;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim March 2022, as “STUDENTS@WORK MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.