Global Impact STEM Academy: Harnessing YouScience to Shape Student Futures

Imagine being a teenager and discovering a clear path to your future career—not just a vague dream, but a personalized plan based on your unique strengths and interests. At Global Impact STEM Academy in Springfield, Ohio, this is exactly what students experience, thanks to YouScience. By combining aptitude assessment with career exploration, YouScience is helping the academy’s students unlock their potential and connect with real-world opportunities that align with their talents.

Jamison Truebenbach, Chief Academic Officer at Global Impact STEM Academy, explains, “YouScience is making a significant difference for our students. It helps them identify their strengths early on and gives them a clear picture of the careers they’re best suited for. It’s incredibly rewarding to see students’ eyes light up when they realize the possibilities ahead of them.”

A Roadmap for Success

Global Impact STEM Academy incorporates YouScience into its curriculum starting in the 8th grade. Students take the YouScience assessment to uncover their natural aptitudes, interests, and skills. These insights often reveal career paths students might not have considered on their own. Following the assessment, students attend a local career fair organized by the Greater Springfield Partnership, where they engage with professionals in industries that match their YouScience results.

As students progress through high school, YouScience remains an integral part of their individual career planning. During their junior year, they complete an updated assessment and work with school counselors to explore post-secondary education and training options. The program not only prepares students for life after graduation but also helps them meet Ohio’s graduation requirements indirectly.

For instance, YouScience results play a role in guiding students toward fulfilling the Ohio Means Jobs Readiness Seal and the senior-year Capstone requirement, which involves internships, job placements, or research projects in areas they’re passionate about.

“By using YouScience, we’ve been able to bridge the gap between education and industry,” says Truebenbach. “Our students are better prepared for the workforce because they know the skills needed for specific careers and whether those careers are a good fit for them.”

Real-World Connections

The benefits of YouScience extend beyond the classroom. Global Impact STEM Academy uses the program’s data to strengthen partnerships with local businesses and industries. Employers gain insights into the skill sets of students, helping them identify potential candidates for internships, job placements, and even long-term careers. This collaborative approach ensures that students are not only career-ready but also equipped to meet the needs of the local workforce.

Although it’s challenging to pinpoint a single success story, many students have leveraged their YouScience results to secure internships, choose college majors, and pursue fulfilling careers. For instance, YouScience plays a critical role in helping students find placements for their 250-hour senior-year internships, which are tailored to their career aspirations.

A Transformative Tool

The faculty and administration at Global Impact STEM Academy view YouScience as a transformative tool. By aligning education with career pathways, the program empowers students to make informed decisions about their futures. It also equips educators with the insights needed to provide personalized guidance and support.

In Springfield, Ohio, this innovative approach is made possible through the collaboration of EXPAND Greater Springfield and the Greater Springfield Partnership, who fund the YouScience program for local school districts. Their investment is not only shaping the lives of individual students but also strengthening the region’s workforce and economic development.

Truebenbach sums it up best: “YouScience is helping our students figure out what careers they want to pursue early in life and explore the best ways to achieve those goals. It’s inspiring to see how this program is shaping their futures and building a stronger community.”

As the first in a series of highlights on schools using YouScience, Global Impact STEM Academy’s story demonstrates the power of personalized career exploration. With tools like YouScience, the next generation of innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders is already taking shape.