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On Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 6:00 p.m., Alliance Pickens will host a STEM “Evening of Celebration” at the Pickens County Career and Technology Center (CTC) in Liberty to celebrate students who have distinguished themselves in the subject areas of STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

The event serves as both a celebration and a fundraising event. One hundred percent of the proceeds will be presented to the School District of Pickens County (SDPC) to assist the CTC STEM programs through the acquisition of more robots, electronics, mechatronic and machine tool equipment, pipe, metal, and wire for students to learn with.

Pickens County’s existing industries, which rely on initiatives like the STEM program to supply them a highly-skilled and technically trained workforce, will be in attendance. The evening will be capped with the naming of the 2016 Pickens County Scholar Technician of the Year.

“The combined efforts of Alliance Pickens, Pickens County’s existing industry, the School District of Pickens County, and the Pickens County Career and Technology Center have created a model that has become the envy of much of the U.S.,” said Ray Farley, Executive Director of Alliance Pickens. “We all truly look forward to announcing the 2016 Pickens County Scholar Technician of the Year.”

Alliance Pickens developed the Scholar Technician program, a workforce development initiative and economic development tool created to encourage young people to pursue technical careers. Alliance Pickens collaborated with existing industry partners, the SDPC, and Tri-County Technical College to create a program that encourages students to apply STEM principles in solving problems with their minds and their hands. The Scholar Technician is the student who augments traditional classroom learning with practical hands-on learning to develop the technical skills required in today’s STEM manufacturing environment.

This initiative exposes students from elementary through high school to applied technical training. By promoting technically skilled students in the same way many communities promote their athletically skilled students, the Scholar Technician initiative encourages students to excel in technical career activities.

The STEM programs available to Pickens County students provide them with excellent opportunities to develop strong technical skills that translate well to today’s manufacturing environment, and the Scholar Technician of the Year award recognizes the outstanding achievements and year-round efforts made by one of the many hard-working students of the SDPC.

If you have any questions or would like to purchase tickets, please contact Melissa Carlson at (864) 898-1500 or mcarlson@alliancepickens.com.