Democracy for Vancouver

D4V readers should know that Senator Murray has taken another step to help improve our education system and give high school students greater opportunities to learn about good local careers and win scholarships to pay for post-secondary training. The federal budget includes the following appropriation, thanks to Senator Murray’s work.

In-Demand Scholars –$ 383,186

This funding will help build a higher skilled workforce in Washington state. The funding will be used to help expand the Washington Workforce Association’s (WWA) In Demand Scholars program. The program prepares students to enter local, high demand occupations through outreach to local employers, job shadowing, internships, and scholarships for post-secondary training.

We (the Washington Workforce Association) designed this program in cooperation with the Washington State Labor Council and the Association of Washington Business. The first phase of the program was expected to serve 86 students, and in fact served 144. Based on this success, the second phase is now funded through Senator Murray’s work. There is a long-shot chance that the state legislature might also put funding toward the program, and we have written an application to the Ford Foundation, as well.

Giving students a chance to intern in a high-demand occupation while they’re still in high school just makes sense, and following through by giving them the means to pay for post-secondary education if they want to pursue that career makes it a very real and tangible option for the students involved.

If you ever have a chance to thank Senator Murray for her vision and support for the In-Demand Scholars program, please do. She deserves it!

Tim