Newark Museum has received a $50,000 contribution from Panasonic Corporation of North America in support of the Explorers Program, a college, career and life-readiness initiative, helping Newark-area high school students thrive through access to art and culture.
The Explorers program, now in its 23rd year, provides an after-school STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) curriculum and support system to a diverse group of youth. For the last 10 years, 100 percent of Explorers have graduated high school and gone on to attend four-year colleges or universities. In 2018, five seniors out of a class of 13 were offered full scholarships. In 2017, the Explorers program was selected as a National Arts and Humanities Youth Program (NAHYP) award winner. The NAHYP Award is presented to institutions that exemplify how arts and humanities programs outside of the regular school day enrich the lives of young people throughout the country by teaching new skills, nurturing creativity and building self-confidence.
”We are grateful for the support of Panasonic whose mission to advance equity in education aligns with our core values, ,” said Linda C. Harrison, director and CEO of the Newark Museum. “Since its inception in 1995, the Explorers Program has provided students with a range of experiences that give them valuable skills to aid them in college and beyond.”
Explorers rotate through internships in different areas of the Museum and lead student-designed projects including programming, soldering, and 3D printing, to gain real-life experience in a variety of jobs and fields of study. Most recently, students inspired by the Museum’s collections, developed wearable technology to improve communications for teenagers.
“Panasonic is proud to align with the Newark Museum in our goal to increase access to STEAM education and help students thrive in a 21st century economy,” said Alejandra Ceja, executive director, Panasonic Foundationand Office of Corporate Social Responsibility. “Their unique program offers a road map for long-term success, both academically and professionally.”
For more information about the Museum and the Explorers, please visit www.newarkmuseum.org.
