(Britni Ronolo, After-School All-Stars site coordinator, Central Middle School; Ian Uhatahi-Nardo, grade 7; Ella Nicole Viray, grade 6; Hayley O’Brien, grade 6; Principal Anne Murphy, Central Middle School. Photo credit: iQ 360)
By Staff Reports
(HONOLULU) — After-School All-Stars Hawaii and the Honolulu office of audit, tax and advisory firm KPMG LLP have selected four students from Central Middle School to participate in the first Career Exploration Opportunities (CEO) Fellowship program. The fellowship, part of a larger collaboration between After-School All-Stars and KPMG, will pair students with KPMG mentors during the spring semester to engage in job shadowing and activities related to a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curriculum.
“This is the first year KPMG has joined us to support students interested in learning more about technology and the various career opportunities available to them,” said Dawn Dunbar, president and CEO of After-School All-Stars. “The fellowship provides an opportunity for our students to gain a deeper understanding of what it’s like to work in a STEM-related industry and apply that knowledge to their studies.”
Hayley O’Brien, grade 6; Ella Nicole Viray, grade 6; Rona Duldulao, grade 6; and Ian Uhatahi-Nardo, grade 7, were selected based on their expressed interest in STEM subjects and a demonstration of problem-solving and leadership skills. The students will shadow their mentors at KPMG’s Honolulu office and work collaboratively on a project inspired by their exposure to local STEM-related products or services.
“Our mentors are excited to meet their students and help them cultivate an interest in learning and leading,” said Ani Martirosian Menon, an advisory senior associate at KPMG. “KPMG looks forward to collaborating further with After-School All-Stars on projects that inspire our youth to pursue careers in Hawaii’s growing tech and innovation sector.”
The fellowship program is part of the KPMG CEO Initiative, a yearlong sponsorship with After-School All-Stars that involves advocacy, learning opportunities in and out of the classroom, and real-world applications of STEM education. The first installment of the CEO Initiative, the “Lights On After School” rally in October, brought KPMG employees and After-School All-Stars students from seven public schools together at the State Capitol to advocate for the importance of after-school programs. The initiative will culminate in a “Shark Tank”-style STEM class in the final quarter of the school year, when students at Central Middle School will collaborate to pitch an “app” and business model to a panel of judges from the business and technology community.
About After-School All-Stars
After-School All-Stars Hawaii is a non-profit organization that provides free, quality comprehensive after-school programs that keep children safe and help them succeed in school and in life. Founded by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1990, the programs have been designed to prepare middle school youth for high school, college, and the 21st century by offering academic support, enrichment opportunities and health/fitness activities. The Hawaii chapter was founded in 2009, and serves over 2,000 at-risk youth annually in 10 middle schools on Oahu and the Big Island. After-School All-Stars serves over 70,000 youth annually through after school and summer programs in 15 chapters across the country. www.asashawaii.org.
About KPMG LLP
KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm (www.kpmg.com/us), is the U.S. member firm of KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”). KPMG International’s member firms have 174,000 professionals, including more than 9,000 partners, in 155 countries.