As part of the second cohort of collegiate academies opening next school year, Southwest Airlines will partner with North Dallas High School to provide valuable real-world experience for students.
Southwest Airlines will provide mentoring, host site visits, offer internships and job interviews for students in North Dallas High School’s collegiate academy.
“Partnerships with companies such as Southwest Airlines are critically important because it provides students with real-world experience and insight into the business world,” said Israel Cordero, Chief Strategic Officer of Dallas ISD’s Strategic Initiatives and External Relations department. “We are very thankful to Southwest Airlines for partnering with Dallas ISD to provide students with this great opportunity.”
Julie Weber, Vice President of People at Southwest Airlines, said the company is thrilled to partner with Dallas ISD.
“We are proud to be involved in Dallas ISD’s cohort of collegiate academies, and specifically, with North Dallas High School in our hometown,” Weber said. “Our Campus Reach Team strives to inspire student interest in STEM careers and aviation, identifying and engaging future Southwest Employees at an early age. Their efforts are naturally in alignment with Dallas ISD’s focus on providing the career pathway and courses to prepare successful candidates for today’s workforce.”
Thom D. Chesney, President of Brookhaven College, echoed those sentiments. Brookhaven is paired with North Dallas to deliver the college courses in the partnership.
“Working alongside Southwest Airlines and Dallas ISD in creating academic and career pathways that lead to jobs right here in Dallas and additional higher education opportunities sustains our commitment to meeting the needs of individuals, employers and communities,” Chesney said
North Dallas High School is one of 10 new collegiate academies that will launch next school year. This year, Dallas ISD launched seven new collegiate academies and a P-TECH. Students who attend the collegiate academies have the opportunity to earn up to 60 hours of college credit or an associate’s degree– at no cost to them–concurrently with earning a high school diploma.
Each collegiate academy has at least one industry partner.
“We are excited that opportunities for Dallas ISD students continue to expand when it comes to preparing them to enter tomorrow’s workforce,” Cordero said. “These collegiate academies add to existing district programs that are successfully making college a reality and supporting career-readiness even before students graduate from high school.”
Current eighth-graders may complete and submit online applications for their preferred collegiate academy or early college high school starting on Monday, Dec. 5, 2016. The process also includes a student interview. Those who are accepted will be notified as early as Jan. 31.
