Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology Selects JPL As Strategic Partner

Integrated Marketing Agency Will Develop Interactive Website to Help Drive Awareness Around Growing Job Market Demand for Skilled Technical Employees Among Middle and High School Students

Harrisburg (I-Newswire) August 11, 2012 - JPL, an integrated marketing communications agency, today announced that it has been selected by Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology to lead its MyFutureCareer website. The website is a career awareness and workforce development initiative intended to help middle and high school students understand and consider careers in skilled technology fields. The first phase of the website is set to launch during the 2012/13 school year.

“Research shows that students have an inability to make connections between their program of study and tangible opportunities in the marketplace,” said Chad Baker, director of marketing and public information at Thaddeus Stevens College. “Our goal in developing the MyFutureCareer website is to help students and their families understand the value of a technical school education and the type of career success they can quickly achieve after graduation.”

Sponsored by companies seeking to increase Stevens’ graduates in key fields, the MyFutureCareer website will be an interactive, video-driven experience that features the highest-demand technical careers across the state, such as electrical technology, metals fabrication and welding, among others. The website will be presented as a virtual city of possible careers, where participants can access video of actual Stevens College graduates discussing a day in their life, the nature of their work and the preparation required. Participants can then participate in a Q&A forum with featured graduates, and access a resources portal that includes tailored information for students, parents and counselors. Phase two of the website will involve job postings from sponsor companies ready to hire.

“The growing number of retiring baby boomers coupled with misperceptions around the nature of skilled technical jobs is a growing problem for U.S. employers,” said Jessica Melhorn, client solutions consultant at JPL. “We are excited to be part of the solution, helping Thaddeus Stevens educate students about the soaring demand for their graduates in today’s job market.”

Thaddeus Stevens’ long-term goal for the MyFutureCareer website is that it will become a resource for technical careers across the country. Thaddeus Stevens is currently seeking involvement from other technical colleges and sponsorships from companies seeking skilled technical employees.

About Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is a premier residential, two-year, Middle States Commission on Higher Education accredited technical college that provides a free education to financially disadvantaged citizens of Pennsylvania as well as serving tuition paying students. Stevens has expanded from its original student body of 15 to over 875 students who are enrolled in 20 high-skill, high-wage technical programs. At 96%, Stevens has one of the highest placement rates in the state. Over 90% of the College’s graduates have remained in the Commonwealth since its founding in 1905. Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is Pennsylvania's only state-owned, two-year college of technology.

In 2011 and 2012, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology was recognized by the Aspen Institute, an independent research panel, as one of the top 120 two-year colleges in the country. Thaddeus Stevens College was the only college in Pennsylvania named to the list by the Aspen Institute.

About JPL
JPL is an integrated, strategic communications agency that works with regional, national and global brands, offering a holistic approach to marketing and communications. Headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and founded in 1989, JPL is focused on helping clients grow their business though careful planning, meaningful execution and an ongoing focus on clients’ success.