Bridging the Gap Between Education and Employers in Rural Oregon
As part of its mission to foster a more 'creative, collaborative and future-ready Oregon,' the Spark Oregon program supported by Oregon STEM promotes equitable access to education and career experiences throughout the state. In collaboration with ten rural STEM Hubs, Spark Oregon bridges the divide between education and industry by providing students with the essential knowledge and skills required for success in the workforce.
In summer 2023, 86 students were given the unique opportunity to intern with 28 employer partners, including KEITH Manufacturing Co., the McKenzie Willamette Medical Center and PBS Eugene. The summer’s outcomes speak for themselves — 92% of students reported gaining confidence to pursue their career goals and 90% reported feeling more confident about their future career opportunities. Another 79% of students felt the program played a vital role in guiding them toward tangible career steps.
“Our dedication to career-connected learning is deeply rooted in its transformative impact, not only on our students but also on their families and the communities they are part of,” said Deb Mumm-Hill, executive director of Oregon STEM. “With widening disparities in career awareness, skills development, and college debt burden, our commitment is to bridge these divides. The Spark Oregon initiative helps students discover their local job market, giving them the knowledge and skills to be well-prepared and informed about their future possibilities in the world of work.”
Spark Oregon’s goals are tailored to meet the specific needs of the state’s diverse regions. Frontier STEM Hub, located in Malheur County along the Oregon and Idaho border, connects students to advanced manufacturing career opportunities. Their approach emphasizes removing barriers to participation and offering local students pre-intern training and paid internship positions.
A common goal across all regions, though, is for students to gain clarity about their future career pathways and career identities. Feedback from participating students shows the program’s success, with 82% of students from summer 2023 saying they gained a clearer sense of direction about their post-secondary plans.
Beyond clarity, Spark Oregon aims to empower students to take concrete steps toward their career goals.
As one student shared, "My internship helped me explore new skills and develop my portfolio to get accepted to art school." A key part of empowerment is building confidence, another Spark Oregon goal, and survey data indicated that after completing their internship, 92% of students believed they could achieve their goals despite challenges.
The positive outcomes extend to employer partners, too. Almost all of the participating industry partners — 96% — reported that the program made them more committed to creating opportunities for students to develop key skills, and 97% gained a clearer understanding of their role in building student career readiness.
“Our experience with the internship was incredibly positive. The energy of the students and their willingness to learn created an environment where our employees really enjoyed teaching the interns about their jobs,” said Mike Feigner, a plant manager at KEITH Manufacturing Co., a Spark Oregon employer partner. “The vetting process was excellent, and provided us with a group of students truly qualified to be in our production facility. At the end of the internship, we were able to extend a full-time job offer to an 18-year-old, which helps reinforce to other local youth that we do have entry positions available for recent graduates with manufacturing skills.”
Spark Oregon's innovative approach is proof that when philanthropic organizations, educational institutions and local industries collaborate, they can empower the next generation to build strong career identities and achieve a brighter future.
