Jump Start Summer programs offer Tangi high school students hourly pay, high school credit

HAMMOND---Jump Start, Louisiana’s comprehensive career and technical education (CTE) program, offers high school students currently enrolled in the Tangipahoa Parish School System an opportunity to choose from over a dozen summer job training programs that allow them to “learn while they earn.”

TOPS University, TOPS Tech, and Jump Start students are eligible to participate in courses and internships focused on high-demand fields such as health sciences, business management, manufacturing and logistics, and information technology. Along with this essential job skills training, they can earn industry-recognized credentials and an hourly stipend for their time in the classroom.

Starting in June, various high schools throughout the parish will host half- or full-day courses in automotive service, welding, electrical, nursing, emergency response, pharmacy tech, coding and computer technology, drone piloting, and numerous other career proficiencies, with select dual enrollment classes available at Northshore Technical Community College’s Hammond and Greensburg campuses. TPSS will provide school-to-school transportation to some locations based on driver availability. Students who successfully complete a Jump Start Summer program will earn up to $10 per hour plus bonuses for any industry credentials they obtain, as well as receive course credit toward their high school diploma.

“We strongly encourage all of our rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, and Class of 2023 graduates to participate in Jump Start Summer programs because it’s just a win-win situation for them,” states Karley Cooper, TPSS CTE Coordinator. “The knowledge and experience they gain gives them a huge competitive edge when they enter the workforce, and having that hourly stipend means they can treat the program like a summer job without having to go outside their field of interest.”

Ponchatoula High School student Josh Ho, a participant in previous Jump Start Summer courses, recognizes how Jump Start’s emphasis on experiential and collaborative learning allowed him to investigate his career interests beyond the boundaries of the traditional high school curriculum. “It helped me explore and push my creativity to new levels,” he explains. “The program opened my eyes to countless job opportunities that I never knew existed.”

Enrollment is limited and some Jump Start Summer programs have age or prerequisite restrictions, so interested students should review the requirements for each course or internship as soon as possible to ensure they complete the application by May 26.

For more information about Jump Start Summer programs and internship opportunities, visit https://www.tangischools.org/academics/jumpstartsummer.