CCS Launches Paid STEM Summer Experience for Rising Sophomores in the College & Career Academies

February 24, 2026 -- When Columbus City Schools (CCS) freshmen said they wanted more hands-on learning, District leaders listened. Instead of another worksheet, CCS built an experience.

This summer, thanks to a partnership with I Know I Can and Battelle, 200 rising sophomores from the Academies of Beechcroft, East, Walnut Ridge, and West High Schools will immerse themselves in collaborative spaces citywide for the 2026 Careers in STEM Paid Summer Experience. The one-week program is designed to connect classroom learning to careers while offering a paycheck, too.  

"This summer [experience] removes the choice students often have to make between earning money and gaining opportunity," said Chief Program Officer at I Know I Can, Ashley Logan. "They will build new skills, expand their understanding, and walk away with funds they can use to support themselves and their families."

CCS Superintendent/CEO Dr. Angela Chapman describes the experience as a program rooted in three pillars: college and career-connected learning, strong partnerships, and student voice. This summer program brings all three together.

"This is a paid, hands-on STEM experience where students step into real-world labs and explore high-demand careers alongside our higher education and industry partners," Dr. Chapman said. "They will not only build technical skills, but also strengthen their leadership and confidence. At Columbus City Schools, we are preparing students to lead, advocate, serve, and shape their own educational paths. This is how we build true student ownership of their journey."

From June 1-5, students will work with I Know I Can to choose one of four pathways: marketing and entrepreneurship, engineering, manufacturing, or health care and health sciences.

Instead of reading about these industries, students will engage in real-world labs and work alongside higher education partners, including The Ohio State University and Columbus State Community College. 

"Across our campus, students will rotate through four to five hands-on labs as they explore different career pathways and opportunities," said Laura Jones, executive administrator with Columbus State Community College. "Each stop gives them a closer look at what those fields demand and what their future could hold. We are proud to partner with I Know I Can and Columbus City Schools to make this experience possible. We look forward to welcoming students to campus and building what comes next together."

The 2026 Careers in STEM Paid Summer Experience was shaped by student feedback from freshman year. Students worked with I Know I Can Career Navigators and in Freshman Seminar, to explore interests and futures. Students wanted to see careers in action and test skills beyond the classroom.

"We want students to understand better who they are and what they enjoy while they are still in high school," Logan said. "When they start exploring earlier, they have more time to map out their path and make informed decisions about what comes after graduation."

Participants will receive transportation from Beechcroft, East, Walnut Ridge, and West. Each day, the program provides meals, and students who attend all five days earn a $450 stipend. 

For some students and families, the paid program removes a barrier. The message from I Know I Can and CCS is that students’ time and talent have value.

"Our students are talented and bring so much to the table every day," Logan said. "It is our responsibility as adults to ensure they have experiences that align with the needs of our region right now. They deserve that exposure."

The pilot program has limited eligibility. To participate, students must: 

• Be a rising sophomore attending the Academies of Beechcroft, East, Walnut Ridge, or West. 
• Have passed the Freshman Seminar. 
• Have passed at least three of the four core classes. 
• Have completed YouScience brain games. 

Each eligible school has 50 seats, totaling 200 students District-wide. Applications are open now and close on March 31.

"Today's announcement reflects the hard work of our students and the strength of our partnerships coming together on their behalf,” said Chief Executive Officer of I Know I Can, Katina Fullen. "This opportunity exists because students spoke up and asked for more hands-on experience. They want to see how careers operate in real life and what those day-to-day responsibilities look like. We listened, and this program responds directly to that call."

CCS views the program as a launchpad. Instead of waiting until senior year for internships or postsecondary enrollment to test career interests, students will begin as rising sophomores. The exposure to careers becomes experience for these students. For many, the program will be an opportunity to build a direction toward their future, not as an idea, but as something tangible and within reach.