Johnson & Johnson Vision Collaborates with Duval County Public Schools to Provide STEM training to More Students
Academy to Expand and Provide Essential Training for Students Interested in the Fields of STEM, Manufacturing, Distribution, and Logistics
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – April 20, 2023 - Johnson & Johnson Vision*, a global leader in eye health and part of Johnson & Johnson MedTech**, in collaboration with Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) and Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ), today announced the expansion of the Johnson & Johnson Vision Academy of Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (the "Academy") at Duval County Public Schools.
This expansion will enable more students in DCPS to participate in the FSCJ program via dual enrollment and, in some instances, start earning college credit prior to graduation. The program also provides access to Johnson & Johnson Vision mentors and hands-on experience with manufacturing, distribution, and STEM-related jobs.
“At Johnson & Johnson Vision, we are deeply committed to fostering talent and helping to create equity and access to career opportunities for young people,” said Peter Menziuso, Company Group Chairman, Johnson & Johnson Vision. “Our continued collaboration with Duval County Public Schools and the Florida State College at Jacksonville enables more training for students with an interest in STEM related career paths right here in our local community.”
The Academy has proven to be successful since its debut at Englewood High School in 2014, providing students with the hands-on education and one-on-one mentorship they need to begin STEM-related career paths. Eighty-one students have graduated from the program to date.
With the official expansion of the program, Johnson & Johnson Vision has established a program model with DCPS to provide students with hands-on training in STEM and distribution/logistics education. The three schools that will participate in the program are Englewood High School, Atlantic Coast High School, and Riverside High School. Students interested in enrolling in the program may speak with their school counselor at any of the three participating high schools to find out more information.
“I am so thankful to Johnson & Johnson Vision for their commitment to providing career-ready skills to our students,” said DCPS Superintendent Dr. Greene. “We have already seen tremendous success with the program at Englewood and Atlantic Coast High Schools, and I’m looking forward to even more of our students being prepared for successful careers as this initiative expands.”
Itangakubuntu Godfrey, a Process Technician at Johnson & Johnson Vision, Jacksonville, and recent graduate from the Manufacturing Academy at Englewood High School shared, “At Englewood, I was not a popular kid, and I was not the smartest. But I listened and I tried to do the right things. Enrolling in Academy allowed me to pursue my goals and led me to a successful career. Today as an employee at Johnson & Johnson Vision, my approach has not changed; I listen, and I attempt to do the right things. I am thankful for my Academy mentors and teachers who took the time to educate me and guide me to where I am today.”
In addition to the educational opportunities during the school year, Johnson & Johnson Vision will also provide six-month paid internships to select students upon their high school graduation. The internships will benefit those students interested in manufacturing, distribution, logistics, and/or technician job opportunities.
Johnson & Johnson Vision—one of the largest employers in Jacksonville—is also the maker of ACUVUE®, the world’s bestselling contact lens. In addition to continuing its investment in Jacksonville, the Company is committed to supporting local career development, career growth, and reducing high school dropout rates.
About Johnson & Johnson Vision
At Johnson & Johnson Vision, part of Johnson & Johnson MedTech**, we have a bold ambition: to change the trajectory of eye health worldwide. Through our operating companies, we deliver innovation that enables eye care professionals to create better outcomes for patients throughout their lives, with products and technologies that address unmet needs including refractive error, cataracts, and dry eye. In communities with greatest need, we work in collaboration to expand access to quality eye care, and we are committed to helping people see better, connect better, live better. Visit us at jjvision.com, follow @JNJVision on Twitter, Johnson & Johnson Vision on LinkedIn, and @JNJVision on Facebook.
About Johnson & Johnson MedTech
At Johnson & Johnson MedTech, we unleash diverse healthcare expertise, purposeful technology, and a passion for people to transform the future of medical intervention and empower everyone to live their best life possible. For more than a century, we have driven breakthrough scientific innovation to address unmet needs and reimagine health. In surgery, orthopaedics, vision, and interventional solutions, we continue to help save lives and create a future where healthcare solutions are smarter, less invasive, and more personalized.
© Johnson & Johnson Vision, 2023. All rights reserved.
*Johnson & Johnson Vision represents the products and services of Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc., Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., and the affiliates of both.
**Johnson & Johnson MedTech comprises the surgery, orthopaedics, vision, and interventional solutions businesses within Johnson & Johnson’s MedTech segment.
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