For more information: Erin Brennock 650-584-1687
For more information: Debbie Gale 408-988-8915x211
In the midst of an economic downturn, it is easy to overlook that the
number of local students planning to join Silicon Valley’s technology
workforce over the next ten years, will fall far short of industry needs. Junior
Achievement of Santa Clara County and Synopsys, Inc., are working
together to help close that gap, by providing opportunities for students to
develop workplace skills. Junior Achievement’s annual Groundhog Job
Shadow Day recently came to Synopsys’ Mountain View/Sunnyvale
offices. Thirty 8th grade students from Sunnyvale Middle School learned
how a technical corporation operates and were introduced to the broad
range of possible technology careers. Students were paired with Synopsys
employees to see for themselves how to apply their studies to the work
world, answering the eternal question, "Why do I have to learn this?"
School staff selected the Sunnyvale Middle School students who attended
the daylong excursion. The employee volunteers who turned out to
participate in Job Shadow Day represented nearly all of Synopsys’
departments. Mentors were paired with students who had expressed an
interest in their general job areas. For example, an art student spent time
with a Synopsys graphic artist. The daylong agenda included a facility tour
and “executive meetings” with Synopsys President and COO Chi-Foon
Chan and Vice President of IT Debra Martucci. Each student accompanied
their assigned mentor as they went about their jobs, for a real-world work
experience. Students got to see what it was like to work in a variety of
technology jobs including: marketing, finance, human resources, purchasing
and many kinds of engineering. The day ended with an enthusiastic
graduation and wrap-up by Deirdre Hanford, Senior Vice President of
Market and Business Development. "When students are able to experience
the working world first-hand, we believe that valuable seeds are planted that
will help these young people make sound career decisions in the years
ahead," said Ms. Hanford. “We thank Junior Achievement for offering the
Job Shadow Day program to assist today's students in becoming
tomorrow's workforce contributors."
Synopsys strives to inspire the future generation of technologists through
innovative programs that foster education, particularly science and math
education. In addition to supporting Junior Achievement in a variety of ways,
the “Synopsys Outreach Foundation” sponsors many local science fairs,
including the Silicon Valley Science and Technology Championship in San
Jose. Another way Synopsys carries out their education initiative is by
encouraging volunteers within their organization. Theo Olson in Synopsys’
Community Relations has been supported by the company to actively
participate in Leadership Mountain View, an organization which trains the
next generation of community leaders. As part of Leadership Mountain
View, Theo presented the Junior Achievement’s “JA in a Day” curriculum
to a combination 1st and 2nd grade class at Castro Elementary School in
Mountain View. “Working with the students is a truly rewarding experience
as you see their enthusiasm to learn,” states Mr. Olson. “My experience
was so positive that I have continued to volunteer as a reading tutor”.
Synopsys plans to continue its local partnership with Junior Achievement of
Santa Clara County. According to Synopsys President and COO, Chi-Foon
Chan, “Synopsys is proud of our ongoing partnership with Junior
Achievement and commend them for offering a premier K-12 local economy
education program."
Synopsys volunteers were so inspired by their success with Sunnyvale
Middle School students, that the company is planning to double its student
participation next year in Junior Achievement’s Groundhog Job Shadow
Day.
Junior Achievement of Santa Clara County has offered Groundhog Job
Shadow Day for more than five years. The program is well orchestrated to
fit corporate schedules while meeting student needs. Beginning with a
nationwide kickoff on February 1, 2002, and continuing throughout the
school year, students across America “shadow” workplace mentors as they
go through a normal day on the job. Also, Junior Achievement has many
other ways for individuals and groups to work in the classroom. Visit the
Junior Achievement website at www.jascc.org to see how you and your
company can make a difference in students lives as well as positively impact
the local economy.
About Junior Achievment
Junior Achievement of Santa Clara County is the premier K-12 local
economic education organization, serving Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito
and Santa Clara counties. Globally, Junior Achievement is the largest and
fastest-growing nonprofit economic education organization, annually teaching
over 4 million elementary, middle school and high school students in 106
countries. Since 1953, Junior Achievement has partnered with Santa Clara,
Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito county businesses, communities and
educational institutions to help young people familiarize themselves with
business concepts. Junior Achievement’s mission is for students to be
inspired and educated by volunteer role models who help these youth
succeed by linking education to the world of work. Junior Achievement’s
unique approach to accomplish that mission is that local business
organizations’ volunteers--combining their work experience with up-to-
date, Junior Achievement-developed courses--teach students how to apply
basic skills and critical thinking to solve complex problems in the “real
world.” Junior Achievement of Santa Clara County: Making local economic
education impact one classroom at a time.
About Synopsys
Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS), headquartered in Mountain View,
California, creates leading electronic design automation (EDA) tools for the
global electronics market. The company delivers advanced design
technologies and solutions to developers of complex integrated circuits,
electronic systems and systems on a chip. Synopsys also provides consulting
and support services to simplify the overall IC design process and accelerate
time to market for its customers. Visit Synopsys at
http://www.synopsys.com.
# # #
Synopsys is a registered trademark of Synopsys, Inc. All other trademarks
or registered trademarks mentioned in this release are the intellectual
property of their respective owners.
Joint Venture Silicon Valley Network’ “2002 Workforce Study:
Connecting Today’s Youth with Tomorrow’s Technology Careers”.
March, 2002. Conducted by A.T. Kearney.
