My name is Elyssa McDowell and I am the Partnership Coordinator for Linn-Mar High School’s Venture Academics Project-Based Learning Program. You may have partnered with Venture last school year and are familiar with the program, but for those of you who are not; the goal of Venture is to teach students high school coursework with a project/community involvement focus. We want students to apply what they are learning to real-world applications and develop strong 21st-century skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, time management, and the ability to work collaboratively. We are building connections with local businesses and professionals for the purpose of students working on projects for businesses, being mentored, and gaining exposure to individuals and careers in this area.

Venture launched school year 2021/22 serving 94 students. This year we will have 200 students participating in the program. We offer learning in the following content strands:

Over the last year we had over 100 interactions with community partners. I highlighted some of these experiences in quarterly newsletters. Here are links to a few of the newsletters:

•  Q2 Newsletter
•  Q3 Newsletter
•  Q4 Newsletter

I share these newsletters for two reasons:

1.  MEDCO has been a valuable partner for Venture in facilitating community connections. As MEDCO investors we want to keep you in the loop regarding program progress and student experiences.
2. To invite you to consider how your business/organization might be able to partner with the program this coming year (Especially for those of you that have not yet partnered with Venture)

If, as you read these newsletters, you have an idea for a project come to mind or you would like to schedule a meeting with me to learn more about the program and how you could partner with us, please feel free to reach out.  

Thank you,

Elyssa McDowell

[email protected]  

Strategic Partnerships Coordinator
Venture Academics, Linn-Mar CSD
319-447-3124