New Paths, New Partnerships for NJAPIE

Dear Colleagues:

The fever-building excitement that led us into Year 2000 has finally subsided. Even though our millennium temperatures have returned to normal, it isn’t business as usual. The New Jersey Association of Partners in Education (NJAPIE) is looking at new ways to serve our members and all those who believe in the value of educational partnerships.

This year, we’re exploring better approaches to networking with other organizations that share our interest in K-12 partnerships. We’re seeking a larger presence at educational conferences. In fact, NJAPIE presented a workshop at the NJASA/NJSBA Eighteenth Annual Spring conference on Monday, May 22, at Bally’s Park Place in Atlantic City. Also, NJAPIE may be providing a regional networking session or two. And our website, www.njapie.org, is being enhanced to offer timely information about partnership resources, ideas and awards.

Some things don’t change. No one ever seems to have enough time, resources or contacts to spread the word about educational programs and services that result in solid partnerships. So let us know how we can work with you. Call or write to us c/o Harriett Thomas, NJAPIE Coordinator at the New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA), 920 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08618, 609-599-2900, ext. 125.

Sincerely,
Jo Ann Dow
NJAPIE President

Newsletter Index

NJAPIE Invites You
to Explore Its On-line Opportunities

The New Jersey Association of Partners in Education (NJAPIE) invites educators, corporate and organizational representatives, and higher education personnel to explore its website. By visiting www.njapie.org, an individual can access: a statewide network of school districts, institutions of higher education, and businesses and community organizations that promote effective public/private partnerships in New Jersey; a survey that will allow you to profile your K-12 partnerships on the site; and a database of exemplary partnership programs.

NJAPIE members also have the ability to access membership services such as: newsletters, technical assistance and eligibility for state program awards. So take a moment from your busy schedule to explore NJAPIE’s on-line opportunities.

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The Great Paneverest Challenge

Overview
Panasonic Industrial Company sponsors the Annual Creative Design Challenge, a competition for New Jersey High School students in grades 9-12, in cooperation with the New Jersey Institute of Technology and the Liberty Science Center. This year’s Creative Design Challenge 2000 is the 10^th such event, which offers scholarship money, prizes, fun, and learning opportunities to students and schools. Some high schools have either developed or integrated project design, product development, problem-solving, and teamwork into a course or courses to help prepare students for design challenges and competitions such as this one. This event demonstrates the potential positive outcomes that result from business, high school and university education partnerships.

Creative Design Challenge 2000
This year, “The Great Paneverest Challenge” involved the construction of a device capable of scaling a height and negotiating various types of surfaces to plant a flag at the top of “Mt. Paneverest.” Teams were scored on multiple tasks and outcomes including the grading of a written report, a project logbook, an oral presentation, the team approach, and the operation of their designed solution to the problem. The first place team – Delbarton School won a $5,000 scholarship for each student; second place – Governor Livingston High School won $4,000; third place – Hunterdon Central Regional High School won $3,000; and fourth place – Pascack Valley High School won $2,000. Other special category winners receive Panasonic products.

For more information, please contact Donna L. Prawertz at 201-348-5361, or visit the Panasonic Industrial Company’s website at www.panasonic.com/.

About the Author
Cecil H. Broadnax, Jr. is Executive Director of the Division of Career Development Services at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). He holds a BS in Biomedical Engineering and an MS in Management from NJIT. Additionally, he holds a Ph.D. in Leadership, Supervision and Administration from Fordham University. He is currently working on an MS in Biomedical Engineering at NJIT.

Broadnax has had an illustrious Biomedical Engineering career of almost 20 years. He advanced through progressively responsible roles within Research & Development into Marketing and subsequently International Marketing. He holds several patents on medical devices and was responsible for developing a major business opportunity across Western Europe for a large New Jersey based medical products company.