Lt. Governor Tressel Continues WorkOhio Job Connector Tour at STEM Education Center in Columbus

Lt. Governor Jim Tressel joins staff and educators with the PAST Foundation at their Innovation Lab in Columbus. COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Lt. Governor Jim Tressel visited the PAST Foundation Innovation Lab in Columbus today for the third stop on his WorkOhio Job Connector Tour. The tour highlights training providers and employers WorkOhio can lead students and job seekers to as they look to take the next step in their careers. “WorkOhio is all about helping people discover the opportunities that fit their interests, talents, and goals – and organizations like the PAST Foundation are helping open those doors early,” said Lt. Governor Tressel. “The hands-on experiences students receive here help connect learning to real careers in STEM, advanced manufacturing, robotics, transportation, and other growing fields that are shaping Ohio’s future.” WorkOhio launched earlier this year to connect Ohioans with in-demand jobs, training programs, and career resources through personalized support from teams of regional job experts. Located in WorkOhio’s Central Ohio region, the PAST Foundation is a nationally recognized STEM education and workforce innovation organization. Through strong partnerships with local industry and education leaders, PAST creates immersive learning experiences that teach and excite young Ohioans about the jobs of the future. Inside the Innovation Lab Lt. Governor Tressel started his visit at PAST’s “Proving Ground” space, which is used as a regulation-size competition arena for FIRST Robotics teams. The Lt. Governor met with fifth grade students from Metro Schools in Columbus who were visiting the PAST Innovation Lab Monday. He watched as they learned the computer coding skills to program their own robots. The Lt. Governor then joined high school and college students who introduced him to other STEM technologies they were being trained on. The students showed the Lt. Governor how they were learning to use a range of equipment, from computer-assisted drawing software to 3D printers and more. During the visit, Lt. Governor Tressel also learned about PAST’s work to develop Portable Innovation Labs. PAST’s Portable Innovation Labs are created in partnership with industry leaders and made available to schools and students across Ohio. Portable Innovation Labs are “activities in a box” featuring a variety of problem-based learning activities that build skills that are currently in high demand across Ohio’s industries. One of the Portable Innovation Labs was developed in partnership with DriveOhio – a state initiative that provides Ohioans opportunities to learn about smart mobility technology for vehicles on the ground and in the air. The Lt. Governor spoke with PAST Foundation leadership and educators about the importance of connecting classroom learning with real-world career opportunities and exposing students to Ohio’s growing workforce needs at an early age. “We celebrate this visit from Lt. Governor Tressel in recognition of his launch of WorkOhio because his work aligns perfectly with the workforce initiatives of the PAST Foundation. Together with WorkOhio, PAST is helping make more young Ohioans aware of the in-demand career pathways available in STEM,” said Annalies Corbin, Founder and CEO of the PAST Foundation. WorkOhio Job Connector Tour Previous stops on the Lt. Governor’s WorkOhio Job Connector Tour have been held in: Marietta (Southeast Region) – Appalachian Ohio Manufacturers’ Coalition Austintown (East Region) – Xaloy Global Headquarters Additional stops will be held in each of the remaining WorkOhio regions in the coming weeks.