News Release
Contact
Laurie E. Bick-Jensen
Director,
Public Relations
320 DuPont Highway
New Castle, DE
19720
(302) 295-1164
laurie.e.bick@wilmu.edu
From Minimum Wage to Meaningful Careers
Wilmington University and Year Up open the door to occupational opportunity
In a competitive job market, talent and motivation may not be enough for new grads looking to start their careers. But a new partnership between Wilmington University and Year Up Wilmington can provide young adults with the opportunity they need to gain a foothold on the future.
Year Up Wilmington, the local chapter of a national non-profit dedicated to teaching marketable job skills to disadvantaged college students and connecting them with area companies in search of those skills, has agreed to run its training program at Wilmington University's New Castle campus for the next three academic years.
On August 23, a cohort of 40 WilmU students aged 18 to 24 who qualified for Year Up's intensive professional development, began six months of classroom work to learn the skills that the organization's corporate partners are seeking in new hires. These classes will be followed by six months on the job, as they apply those skills and gain work experience as interns with those companies.
The program's participants will earn stipends as well as credit toward their college degrees during the training sessions and internships. The hands-on experience aims to benefit their education, their career goals, and the region's businesses.
In their partnership agreement, WilmU and Year Up state: "Through this partnership, the University and Year Up are positioned to demonstrate the social and economic impact that an innovative collaboration between a leading broad-access education system, a nationally recognized social enterprise, and a network of committed corporate partners can achieve for young adults in Wilmington, Delaware and across the country."
To apply to the Year Up Wilmington training program, or to get involved, visit yearup.org/Wilmington. For more information about Year Up Wilmington, contact site director Peter Lonie at 302-383-8440 or by email to plonie@yearup.org.
About Wilmington University
Wilmington University is one of the fastest growing and most affordable private, nonprofit universities in the region, offering undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in online and traditional formats. An accredited and respected leader specializing in exemplary student service, Wilmington University offers convenient and flexible options designed to prepare students for success in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Now celebrating its 50th year, the University has never wavered in its mission to offer opportunities to all who wish to transform their lives through quality education. For more information, visit www.wilmu.edu
