Bentonville officials offer toast to new program

BENTONVILLE -- Students, staff members, School Board members and business leaders came together Friday to celebrate the School District's new Ignite program.

About 35 people sipped sparkling grape juice from plastic glasses as they took turns sharing their observations of the program in an event billed as a "toast" to Ignite.

What’s in a name

The Ignite program’s name came from Paul Stolt, director of communications for the Bentonville School District. “I can’t tell you how much time we spent on coming up with a name,” said Judy Marquess, district executive director of instruction for grades seven through 12. She said Ignite is the “perfect” name because of the program’s intent to jumpstart students’ interest in a career path.

Source: Staff report

Ignite focuses on preparing high school students for jobs through partnerships with local businesses, nonprofit organizations and entrepreneurs. It launched on a pilot basis this past fall with an Information Technology Solutions class taught by district technology director Andy Mayes.

"It has helped me see a path I can take to adulthood," said Tyler Bedford, a Bentonville High junior in the Information Technology Solutions class. "It's allowing me to collaborate with other students who have the same interests. We all talk about nerdy stuff, I guess."

Five of Mayes' 15 students recently started internships at Wal-Mart's Information Systems Division as a result of their involvement in the class. Two others are interning with RevUnit, a software development and digital marketing company in Bentonville. Another student will begin an internship next week with Rockfish, a digital innovation agency in Rogers, Mayes said.

Other students are working on projects in partnership with Mill Creek Software, the Huntsville School District and an outdoor goods supplier.

Mayes said getting Ignite going has been challenging, but added it's been a "wonderful experience." Tata Consultancy Services, an information technology services company, has provided the space for Mayes' class at its Bentonville office.

Michael Paladino, co-founder and chief technology officer at RevUnit, said Mayes' students are doing "real work." He encouraged them to continue on their current paths.

Ignite will expand this fall with classes related to creative arts, medical and health sciences, construction technology and culinary arts -- all areas where Northwest Arkansas' job market is strong.

Teresa Hudson, Ignite's director, said student interest in Ignite has soared. Eighty students already have signed up for the medical and health sciences strand, which currently has room for only 20 students. She hopes to find space for at least 20 additional students.

Hudson and Bentonville High School Principal Jack Loyd -- who at the time was an assistant principal -- traveled to Kansas City 18 months ago to observe a program called the Blue Valley Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS), the model for Ignite.

Hudson, Loyd and others from the district reached a consensus the program was just what Bentonville needed.

Corey Mohn, executive director of the Blue Valley CAPS program, attended Friday's Ignite celebration. He visited the Ignite students who are interning at Wal-Mart.

"I asked each student, 'Does this seem like work to you?' Every one of them said no," Mohn said.

That kind of response indicates the students have found a career option that aligns with their interests, he said.

Bill Burckart, a Bentonville alderman and owner of Burckart Construction, said he'd been waiting for years for something like Ignite. The construction industry strand that starts next year under Ignite will propel more students toward that industry, where there is a shortage of qualified workers.

"I've never been more proud of a collaboration I've been part of than I am of this one," Burckart said.

NW News on 01/30/2016

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