A well-attended ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in late October.
By Matthew Teffeau, Manager of Government Affairs
Electric Cooperative and Delmarva Power recently partnered to develop an educational and interactive energy industry storefront. This partnership demonstrates Eastern Shore utilities coming together and investing in career engagement, STEM programming, and workforce development.
Choptank Electric Cooperative leadership joined over 400 individuals during the October ribbon-cutting ceremony. Community leaders spoke about making sure that students in every corner of the state of Maryland have access to first-class educational opportunities. Jake Day, Maryland Secretary of Housing & Community Development, noted the amazing opportunity students will receive visiting the JA Center. “They will see firsthand the skills needed to acquire good-paying jobs in different industries right here on the Eastern Shore,” said Day. Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman highlighted the importance of the JA Center, especially when it comes to financial literacy. “We know financial education is key to long-term success,” stated Lierman.
More than 10,000 students from six Eastern Shore counties will visit the Perdue Henson JA Center in Salisbury, MD over the course of the next year. Elementary and middle school students will participate in JA BizTown to learn about the different industries that make up a town, and middle and high school students will participate in JA Finance Park to learn about personal finance budgeting and career exploration.
(L-R) Board Member Jeff Rathell, CEO & President Mike Malandro, Maryland Secretary of Housing Jake Day, Board Member Donna West, and Matthew Teffeau stand in front of our new utility storefront.
The joint utility storefront also offers student the ability to see “How Energy Grids Work.” Designed by Bobby Schaller from Choptank Electric Cooperative, the 12-foot mural of the Eastern Shore highlights how energy travels from generation to your home. The hands-on storefront experience features careers as a lineworker, engineer, customer service rep, community relations manager, safety manager, CEO and CFO. Students will get to try on lineworker gear, sell hard hats, label the parts of a utility pole, pay a utility bill, and learn how electricity and high-speed internet benefit a community through the other storefronts in the Center.
To learn more about the Junior Achievement Center of The Eastern Shore and their mission, visit: easternshore.ja.org.
