Peter Lorenz Chair-Elect Unirac, Inc. | Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce
On July 24, the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors received a virtual presentation from Amanda Dawson, senior director for state and district partnerships at The College Board. The meeting focused on a new partnership between the Chamber and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to promote an Advanced Placement (AP) Business Principles Finance Course for students.
The College Board is known for its administration of national education programs such as the SAT and AP exams, which impact millions of students across the United States each year.
Peter Lorenz, chairman of the board for the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce and CEO of Unirac Inc., commented on the initiative: “Our Chamber has successfully worked hard both at a state level and an APS level to advocate for financial literacy courses. So, this partnership is exciting.”
Dawson explained that The College Board currently reaches 7 million students annually. She described Career Kickstart, a new program designed to create pathways for career-focused students. According to Dawson, three new AP programs are being developed: AP Cybersecurity, AP Networking, and AP Business with Personal Finance.
She outlined key features of Career Kickstart, emphasizing applied learning with a focus on problem-solving, development of technical and professional skills, connections to workforce needs, alignment with industry-recognized credentials and college credit opportunities, embedded work-based learning experiences, and inclusivity measures intended to eliminate barriers for all students and support teachers and schools nationwide.
For additional information about Career Kickstart or related initiatives by The College Board, resources are available through their website.
