American Student Assistance

American Student Assistance Announces More Than $6 Million in Grants to Increase Access to Career Readiness Opportunities for Youth from Underserved Communities

Retrieved on: 
Monday, March 25, 2024
Learning, International Rescue Committee, Curriculum, College of Engineering (KNUST), Early college high school, Social capital, Partnership, American Student Assistance, SVP, Navajo Nation, ASA, Workforce, Commonwealth, Organization, K-12, Knowledge, Research, Volunteering, Mentorship, NASSA, Student, IRC, Movement, Work, Consultant, Growth, Entrepreneurship, School, BRIC, JA, Life, Boundless, Corporate social responsibility, Animation, Collection, Refugee, Nursing

The grantees' initiatives are focused on improving career readiness outcomes for middle and high schoolers from under-resourced communities.

Key Points: 
  • The grantees' initiatives are focused on improving career readiness outcomes for middle and high schoolers from under-resourced communities.
  • The grant will fund the launch of a youth advisory board, paid internship program, and an alumni program to support mentees post-program.
  • Big Thought envisions a world in which young people in marginalized communities have the same opportunities and experiences as their peers.
  • High school students will move through three phases, including career exploration, career launch, and youth entrepreneurship launch.

Empowerly Raises $15M to Bolster Support for Students in an Increasingly Competitive Admissions Process

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
SAN, University of Chicago, Student, AI, Intelligence, GPA, MIT, Ivy League, Mentorship, Harvard University, Parent, American Student Assistance, UC, Sequoia, Ecosystem, Knowledge, Machine learning, Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon University, Pressure, University of California, Berkeley

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Empowerly, a data-driven education technology company that provides personalized college and career guidance, today announced it has raised a $15 million financing round led by Conductive Ventures. The new funding will be used to continue expanding Empowerly's college counseling services with a focus on building out its artificial intelligence and machine learning product optimizations, such as the AI-powered Empowerly Score's predictive capabilities, scaling its team of admissions experts and data analytics, and preparing for the launch of a mobile app. To date, Empowerly has raised $30 million from investors, including Conductive Ventures, Goodwater Capital, FJ Labs, Scrum Ventures, Translink Capital, American Student Assistance, Spero Ventures, and Mentors Fund.

Key Points: 
  • With over 122,550 college applications read and reviewed, the company has helped thousands of students get accepted into their dream schools.
  • The Empowerly Score — the only predictive technology that can also quantify subjective material — provides students with a 360-degree view of how to be competitive against other applicants.
  • During the latest admissions cycle, an Empowerly student was admitted to every Ivy League college, including Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and Brown.
  • "Empowerly remains committed to providing every student with the resources, guidance, and expertise to navigate an incredibly challenging college admissions landscape," said Hanmei Wu, co-founder of Empowerly.

Parents and Educators Voice Support for Nondegree Pathways After High School but Want Better Information on Quality Options

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Policy, Parent, Child, Ecosystem, Generation Z, American Student Assistance, JFF, Gen, Learning, Education, Student, ASA, Nursing

BOSTON, Feb. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey commissioned by American Student Assistance (ASA) and Jobs for the Future (JFF) finds that both parents and educators lack sufficient information about the range and quality of education to career pathways available to young people today. The survey and accompanying white paper, Beyond Degrees, finds nearly 90% of parents are interested in learning more about nondegree pathways for their children, and two in five want schools to start advising students about their postsecondary options as early as middle school. 

Key Points: 
  • "This survey underscores the need to integrate information about pathways earlier in students' educational journeys and provide families and educators with a clear picture of the outcomes of nondegree programs."
  • In a previous surv ey by ASA and JFF, Gen Z high school graduates shared a growing interest in nondegree education and training programs.
  • Both parents and educators want students to have greater exposure to postsecondary educational options before high school.
  • Nearly 50% of educators said they think the information and guidance about nondegree pathways that their high school provides to students are not enough.

American Student Assistance and the Association for Middle Level Education Launch Free Digital Career Exploration Playbook in Collaboration with Canva for Education

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 22, 2024
Student, Partnership, Learning, Research, American Student Assistance, ASA, AMLE

BOSTON, Jan. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- American Student Assistance Student Assistance® (ASA), a national nonprofit changing the way kids learn about careers and navigate a path to postsecondary education and career success, and the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE), the world's largest professional association for middle grades educators, today announced the launch of "Exploring Career Paths: A Guide for Middle Schoolers (and The People Who Care About Them)." Created in partnership with Canva for Education, this free digital resource is designed for middle schoolers to use independently or in the classroom with the guidance of educators, as well as outside of school in collaboration with a trusted adult such as a parent, mentor, or guardian.

Key Points: 
  • Created in partnership with Canva for Education, this free digital resource is designed for middle schoolers to use independently or in the classroom with the guidance of educators, as well as outside of school in collaboration with a trusted adult such as a parent, mentor, or guardian.
  • "These activities are perfect to engage middle schoolers, allowing them to drive their own exploration during this pivotal time."
  • "We're committed to equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in today's competitive job market.
  • Through our partnership with American Student Assistance and the Association for Middle Level Education, we're thrilled to be offering educators and students valuable, high-quality resources for success – ensuring they're well-prepared for the challenges of the professional world ahead," said Jason Wilmot, Head of Education, Canva.

American Student Assistance Announces Strategic Alliance with Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship to Increase Access to Entrepreneurship Education for Youth in Under-Resourced Communities

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, November 30, 2023
Acquisition, Research, Organization, Creativity, Entrepreneurship, Love, American Student Assistance, Student, NFTE, School, Partnership, ASA, Life, Education, Management

ASA's support will allow NFTE to expand its position as one of the nation's largest entrepreneurship education nonprofits.

Key Points: 
  • ASA's support will allow NFTE to expand its position as one of the nation's largest entrepreneurship education nonprofits.
  • "Research shows that access to high-quality entrepreneurship education leads to better career and economic outcomes.
  • The alliance will also further enable NFTE's pitch competition programs, including its high-profile business plan competition series known as the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge.
  • Developing the entrepreneurial mindset lays a foundation for success throughout life, and effective entrepreneurship education can reduce educational and workplace inequities.

New Survey Reveals Gen Z Youth Pursuing Nondegree Paths After High School Feel Confident and Workforce Ready

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Certification, Student, Gen, Success, Financial independence, Consultant, American Student Assistance, Education, Workforce, JFF, ASA, Generation Z, Life, Nursing, Management, Future

BOSTON, Oct. 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey commissioned by American Student Assistance ® (ASA) and Jobs for the Future (JFF) found that while young people who pursue nondegree pathways report having confidence in their future, there is a pervasive lack of awareness about these diverse pathways to success and how to judge their quality. In fact, two in three youth who did not pursue a nondegree education pathway indicated they would have considered this option if they had known more about it.

Key Points: 
  • The three groups of learners surveyed include: Non-college youth: Those neither enrolled nor graduated from a college (encompasses all survey respondents); Pathway youth: Those who pursued or are pursuing any nondegree postsecondary pathway (describes 558 of survey respondents); and Non-pathway youth: Those who didn't pursue or aren't pursuing any nondegree postsecondary pathway (describes 561 of survey respondents).
  • In comparison to the experiences and perceptions of youth who aren't on a defined pathway, 70 percent of "pathway youth" have high confidence in their post-high school plans.
  • Nearly three in four (71%) of pathway youth respondents said they felt prepared for the workforce.
  • They report several barriers to not pursuing pathway programs, including a lack of encouragement by the school to explore them.

American Student Assistance Announces New Partners for EvolveMe, a Free Digital Platform That Helps Teens Learn About Careers Beyond the Classroom

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Filament Games, Partnership, Youth Service America, Audo, Teaching, Weekly, Sport, Engineering, Student, Entrepreneurship, Athlete, Fearless, Digital, Create, Gen, AI, Drawing, Building, Bad News (video game), American Student Assistance, Flower, Life skills, Training, LGBTQ, STEAM, CMO, SVP, Research, Tilt (arcade), Streets, Blockchain, Learning, ASA, Generation Z, Filament, Uncertainty, Bad, Associazione Nazionale Costruttori Edili, Problem solving, Face, Next, Tourism, Toy, Tutoring, Video game, Management

BOSTON, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Research shows that 87% of learners are interested in ways to match specific skills and interests with potential careers, and 85% would like to learn about the requirements for the careers they are interested in. To keep young people engaged with their future planning, American Student Assistance® (ASA), a national nonprofit changing the way kids learn about careers and navigate a path to postsecondary education and career success, today announced the expansion of its network of partners for its EvolveMe™ digital platform. EvolveMe has engaged more than 600,000 users to date, and the free mobile resource features more than 80 career experimentation and skills-building tasks with a completion rate of over 70 percent.

Key Points: 
  • "Career-focused learning in the classroom can be challenging, now more than ever, during this era of pandemic-related learning loss," said Clay Colarusso, CMO and SVP of Digital Strategy at ASA.
  • "RoboCo Sports League is infused with the spirit of experimentation and discovery, which is why American Student Assistance and the EvolveMe platform are such a perfect fit for this experience and the Roblox platform at large.
  • Teens are rewarded for completing tasks under the categories of Life Skills, Experimenting with Jobs, Building Your Network, and Career Quizzes.
  • For instance, they can see their personal tree grow as it sprouts unique flowers and creatures each time they complete an activity.

Groundbreaking Book from National Youth Career Readiness Expert Jean Eddy Flags Urgent Need to Transform K12 Career Education and Give Teens Information, Experiences, and Skills to Prepare for Jobs of Tomorrow

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
ASA, Communication, Anecdote, Learners, Eddie, Parent, Policy, Research, Student, Trust, Love, Happiness, American Student Assistance, Courage, Self-management, Management

BOSTON, Sept. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- American Student Assistance® (ASA), a national nonprofit changing the way kids learn about careers and navigate a path to postsecondary education and career success, today announced the new book, Crisis-Proofing Today's Learners: Reimagining Career Education to Prepare Kids for Tomorrow's World, from ASA CEO and President Jean Eddy. An informative guide for parents, educators, policy makers, and business leaders, the book outlines new ways to prepare youth for postsecondary education and career success. Crisis-Proofing Today's Learners maintains that in order for young people to find happiness and success in a changing world, they need access to career information and experiences inside and outside the classroom – in their communities, homes, and in the digital spaces they love and trust. The book is currently available for pre-order, and it will be published and widely available on October 7.

Key Points: 
  • An informative guide for parents, educators, policy makers, and business leaders, the book outlines new ways to prepare youth for postsecondary education and career success.
  • The book is currently available for pre-order , and it will be published and widely available on October 7.
  • This book outlines ideas, strategies, and my vision for doing that," said author Jean Eddy, CEO and President of ASA.
  • She identifies the top skills, like adaptability, communication, and self-management, that students must obtain in high school to prepare for jobs of tomorrow.

American Student Assistance Announces Inaugural 2023 Peter Segall Fellowship to Drive Continuous Innovation in Youth Career Readiness

Retrieved on: 
Monday, August 7, 2023
ASA, American Student Assistance, Presidential Innovation Fellows, Marketing, Fellows, Knowledge, Growth, Research, Insight Partners, Partnership, Management

BOSTON, Aug. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- American Student Assistance (ASA), a national nonprofit changing the way kids learn about careers and navigate a path to postsecondary education and career success, today announced its inaugural Peter Segall Innovation Fellowship focused on improving career readiness outcomes for teens. The program is named after and inspired by former ASA Board Member, Peter Segall, in appreciation for his legacy in spearheading edtech solutions, and for his excellence in strategic thinking for effective product development that propels innovation. Currently serving as Managing Director at Insight Partners, Mr. Segall spent two decades serving on ASA's board (1998-2022). With decades of experience, he has a successful track record of growing innovative software and service businesses in the education sector.

Key Points: 
  • BOSTON, Aug. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- American Student Assistance (ASA), a national nonprofit changing the way kids learn about careers and navigate a path to postsecondary education and career success, today announced its inaugural Peter Segall Innovation Fellowship focused on improving career readiness outcomes for teens.
  • Currently serving as Managing Director at Insight Partners, Mr. Segall spent two decades serving on ASA's board (1998-2022).
  • The 2023 inaugural fellowship will be a hybrid 6-12-month assignment which will be completed in person at ASA's offices in Boston and online.
  • To learn more and apply to be considered for the 2023 fellowship opportunity, review the complete job description .

American Student Assistance Announces Career Readiness Sweepstakes for Teens Using the Free EvolveMe Digital Platform that Enables Youth to Acquire Skills for Success After High School

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
ASA, Generation Z, Gen, Clothing, Weekly, Flower, CMO, Life skills, CTE, Building, Next, Drawing, American Student Assistance, Transport, Tutoring, Nursing

BOSTON, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- American Student Assistance® (ASA), a national nonprofit changing the way kids learn about careers and navigate a path to postsecondary education and career success, today announced its EvolveMe™ Weekly Drawing Program, which incentivizes young people nationwide to complete tasks that help them plan for their futures through weekly drawings that end on September 29, 2023. EvolveMe is part of ASA's free suite of digital experiences designed to help teens gain awareness of education pathways and career possibilities that match their interests; increase access to valuable, durable, and transferable skill sets; and give them the confidence they need to navigate a path to success after high school. The sweepstakes will randomly select 26 weekly winners (two per week over the course of 13 weeks), each winning a prize valued at $5,000. The program also includes a one-time bonus cash prize drawing – open only to those who did not win a weekly drawing – valued at $7,500.

Key Points: 
  • The sweepstakes will randomly select 26 weekly winners (two per week over the course of 13 weeks), each winning a prize valued at $5,000.
  • The program also includes a one-time bonus cash prize drawing – open only to those who did not win a weekly drawing – valued at $7,500.
  • They must also be eligible participants in the EvolveMe platform, where participants earn virtual points for completing activities that advance their postsecondary education and career interests.
  • Teens are rewarded for completing tasks under the categories of Life Skills, Experimenting with Jobs, Building Your Network, and Career Quizzes.