Student Programs
The Sea Air and Land Challenge is a STEM initiative in which teams of high school or middle school aged students learn about the engineering process through the design and build of a robotic system. The systems are then used to compete in challenges relevant to the Department of Defense which mimic missions encountered by the military, national security agencies and first responders. The Foundation hosts an annual event every year with scholarship opportunities available to winning teams.
The Foundation partners to host an online marketing contest for middle school students, where participants create a 2-minute marketing video for a partner manufacturing company. Students learn valuable skills such as shooting A and B roll footage, storyboarding, video editing, adding music, and producing a polished final product. Classroom activities also cover social media and digital marketing strategies. The contest culminates in a 48-hour online event where videos are showcased, and the public votes for their favorite through a viewer’s-choice format.
- Educator in the Workplace – The goal of this program is to enhance high school and middle school curriculum development by partnering educators with businesses in Columbia and Montour Counties. Educators bring their experiences back into the classroom through job shadowing experiences and lesson plan development.
- Student in the Workplace – The Student in the Workplace program brings students to a variety of on-site experiences for career exploration.
- Classroom in the Hospital – Students from local schools explore health careers in partnership with local healthcare organizations.
- Classroom on Main Street- Students from local high schools explore busines and entrepreneurships, meeting with small business owners and entrepreneurship experts.
In partnership with Arts in Bloom, students gain first-hand experience in theater production and learn the tie-ins to future careers such as set design, construction, lighting, sound, and more. Teachers, in turn, receive training necessary to keep the student experience consistent across in-district theater programs across the region.Â
Stock Market Challenge: This program allows students to experience the thrill of investing without all the risk of losing real money. With $100,000 of virtual cash, students are in control of their fortune, and compete with other teams from their region and across the state. Teachers register their students in one of three grade-based divisions -: Elementary (Grades 4-5), Junior High/Middle School (Grades 6-8), and High School (Grades 9-12).
Personal Finance Lab: The Foundation has partnered with Brighter Financial Futures and Journey Bank to offer interactive financial literacy programming to high school students in local school districts. This collaboration provides students with hands-on learning opportunities that teach essential financial skills, empowering them to make informed decisions about managing their personal finances. Through engaging, real-world applications, the program ensures students are equipped with the knowledge needed to navigate financial challenges both now and in the future.
The Chamber Foundation offers scholarships to graduating seniors from eight local high schools for a key summer program: Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week (PFEW), an immersive program of the Foundation for Free Enterprise Education that teaches high school students about the American free enterprise system. Both programs connect motivated students with business professionals from across the state, providing valuable opportunities for learning and career exploration.
A partnership with the Columbia-Montour Boy Scouts of America to offer career exploration opportunities to local middle and high schoolers, and to pair local organizations and their career opportunities with students, through guest speakers.