The 2008 Ford PAS Conference Student Track
The 2008 Ford PAS National Networking Conference Student Track Group poses for a photo at the Driving Skills for Life event in Palm Springs, CA.
Student Track Project Description
Ford Motor Company is committed not only to building safe and efficient vehicles but also to giving back to the community through the Ford Motor Company Fund. Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies (Ford PAS), a program supported by Ford Motor Company Fund, is extending this commitment by encouraging students to become active members of their communities, and the student track at this year’s National Networking Conference in Palm Springs, California, focused on building students’ community leadership skills.
Before arriving in Palm Springs, students worked with their teachers to identify problems affecting their communities, such as homelessness, hunger, dirty streets, speeding, or inadequate playgrounds or park facilities. Students were then encouraged to design a sustainable project that would help address one of these problems and to consider ideas about implementation. During the conference students worked in teams of two to create a business plan for their projects.
At the end of the conference student teams presented their business plans, and the conference participants voted on the best plan. The team with the most votes received a grant to be used towards the implementation of its plan.
Students will continue to work on their proposals with the goal of beginning implementation of their projects in the fall of 2008. Each student team will track the progress of its project in the form of a portfolio that can include reflective writings, photographs, and other forms of expression.
Students played an integral role throughout the conference, sharing with participants their experiences with Ford PAS and describing what they have learned and how they feel the program will help them in the future.
Students also got a lesson in safe driving through Ford Motor Company Fund’s Driving Skills for Life (www.drivingskillsforlife.com) program. Driving Skills for Life, recently featured on the Today Show, is a program that helps young drivers improve their skills in hazard recognition, vehicle handling, speed management, and space management.
Click below to view the student presentations.
