The program is customizable for each student and offers opportunities in various different fields.
“I was able to see that I was interested in art therapy,” said Wright, a junior at Springfield High School.
Hill plans on attending Wright State next year and is thankful for what the program has taught him about computer engineering and game design.
“It shows you jobs in the area,” he said. “I like that the career ideas mix together.”
Both students received a Summer Selfie badge.
Summer Selfie is a summer learning activity based on personalities, Haleem said. The badge gauges students’ interests. It is the same process for everyone, but people have different results.
“They are curating their own learning experiences,” Springfield Museum of Art Executive Director Ann Fortescue said.
The badges vary and focus on different skills.
Almon, a junior at the Springfield-Clark County Career Technology Center, focused on his graphic art and architecture skills through LRNG.
“The program gave me a couple suggestions,” he said.
Brown and Haleem were awarded the Summer Selfie and the Garden Cooking badges.
CareerConnectED Center Program Coordinator Rene Stratton helped design the LRNG Garden Cooking badge.
“OSU Extension comes to help them harvest the food they grow and cook with them,” she said. “They brainstorm what they want to plant and everything.”
Another LRNG badge designer Rich Thompson focused on how the badges can help students in schools.
“We gave the Springfield teachers badges,” he said. “We wanted to show them how (badges) can be applicable in classrooms and beyond.”
Kim Fish, director of communications for the Springfield City School District, emphasized the connection LRNG Springfield has with local businesses and educators. The program can unlock opportunities, she said.
“I fell in love with the program,” Haleem said. “It has opened so many doors.”
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