Latest news with #VISTA
Associated Press
21-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Powering the Clean Energy Workforce: Carolina's Story
PSEG ENERGIZE! Growing up in the heart of Hudson County, New Jersey, Carolina Ramos always felt a connection to her community and a desire to make a difference. Her path led her from college studies to hands-on experience in local government and, ultimately, to a career in the growing energy sector. But what stands out most in her story is how she turned her passion into opportunity – and how others can do the same. A personal mission to create change After studying environmental sciences at Rutgers University, Carolina joined the AmeriCorps VISTA program in Jersey City, where she worked on recycling initiatives before transitioning to the city's sustainability department. [CEJ] helped me figure out exactly what kind of work I was looking for.'– Carolina Ramos, Clean Energy Jobs program graduate 'That's where I did what I really loved, giving back to my community and being a civil servant,' she said. But Carolina knew there was more to learn, and as the clean energy industry rapidly expanded, she wanted to be part of it in a bigger way. In addition to taking data science courses, connecting with industry leaders and learning from seasoned professionals, she became involved with 'Latinx in Sustainability.' As part of its leadership team, Carolina helped develop mentorship programs, professional development stipends and webinars to make the clean energy industry more accessible. 'We wanted to let people know that there is space for everyone in this industry,' she explained. The right connections, the right opportunities Through her network, Carolina was introduced to the Clean Energy Jobs Program, an initiative that helps New Jersey residents access training and career opportunities in the clean energy sector. CEJ works with the state's Department of Labor and numerous public and private partners, including PSE&G, to connect job seekers with real-world opportunities, from skilled trades to professional roles in energy consulting. Carolina shared her career goals with CEJ, and they helped her refine her resume, identify job openings and navigate the hiring process. 'They helped me figure out exactly what kind of work I was looking for,' she said. A career with purpose and growth Thanks to the support and resources available through CEJ, Carolina landed a position at an energy consulting firm, where she now works on projects that improve efficiency, assess energy usage and help companies – including PSE&G – implement smart solutions. 'It's been great to get all the technical skills I wanted, to challenge myself and to learn more about the industry,' she said. 'I've always advocated for myself, wanting to contribute to different communities – especially Spanish-speaking communities – while building a strong technical skill set.' Even as she builds her career, Carolina is focused on helping others find their path in the clean energy sector. She volunteers at resume workshops and speaks to students and job seekers about the variety of opportunities available. 'I know there are so many people who think they can't be part of this industry because they don't have a four-year degree or they're still in community college,' she said. 'But there are so many different opportunities, whether you want to go into the trades, pursue certifications or work in analysis like I do. It's a booming industry, and there's room for so many more voices.' Powering the future – together Carolina's journey is a testament to what's possible when ambition meets opportunity. With the right support and access to resources like the Clean Energy Jobs Program, more people can step into rewarding careers in the energy industry. For those looking to make a career move, whether in the trades, technology or analysis, now is the time. The industry is growing, the opportunities are real, and, like Carolina, you might just find the perfect fit. About The Clean Energy Jobs Program The Clean Energy Jobs Program has supported the placement of more than 2,700 individuals in clean energy jobs since its inception, helping to build a skilled workforce that supports both economic and environmental progress in New Jersey. For more information about the Clean Energy Jobs Program and other energy efficiency initiatives, visit Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from PSEG
Axios
20-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Exclusive: Applied Intuition unveils programs to power autonomous drone swarms
Applied Intuition is unveiling new products that, according to one executive, will enable swarms of autonomous military ground vehicles, vessels and drones. Why it matters: The Pentagon is bullish on smart machinery — but a lack of physical and digital infrastructure hamstrings the grand vision. The latest: Applied's announcement Tuesday includes its Axion and Acuity product lines. The former is a "developer cloud" made "specifically for the development of military-grade autonomy," Jason Brown, the company's general manager for defense, told Axios. The latter, he said, "is the output of that." Think of one as the brain and the other as the textbook from which it learns. Together, they hope to account for the "hyper-dynamic realities of warfighting," said Brown, "and of the operating environments that our warfighters find themselves." Programming autonomous weapons and machines to work on war-torn landscapes and on fast-changing battlefields is a huge challenge for militaries and their contractors. Speedy updates are a necessity. Zoom in: The newly disclosed software has been used across the services, including aboard the X-62A VISTA, a modified F-16. Context: Applied in December acquired EpiSci, which was involved with the VISTA and its dogfighting trials.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
SDSU celebrates first graduating class of incarcerated students
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego State University on Thursday celebrated the graduation of its inaugural class of students in a program aimed at helping incarcerated individuals obtain a bachelor's degree from behind bars. Called the Valuing Incarcerated Scholars through Academia program, or VISTA, the initiative allows inmates who have earned a transferrable associate's degree to complete a Bachelor of Arts in one of three areas of study: communications, journalism and art and design. The educational program was founded by Professor Annie Buckley as a way to realize the aspirations of those within the correctional system, lowering their risk for recidivism and putting them on a course towards a better life once they are back in society. The University of California has a similar program in partnership with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. When San Diego universities are holding their commencement ceremonies 'Students share that this degree impacts not only their own lives and trajectories, but their families and communities as well. SDSU is not only fostering academic achievement but also contributing to rehabilitation and personal transformation,' Buckley said in a statement. The inaugural class of 27 inmates at the all-male Centinela State Prison in Imperial County began their studies in August 2023. Clad in the traditional caps and gowns, the graduating students walked across a commencement stage and had their degrees conferred to them by SDSU leadership on Thursday, May 15, marking the end of their journey in the program. One of the participants, Ruben Vargas, described VISTA in a statement shared by the university after the graduation ceremony as a 'new opportunity in life.' 'Earning my bachelor's degree renewed my confidence, my sense of self and transformed my outlook on life,' he said. 'It also allows me to set forth an example to my children, that in spite of any circumstances that life finds you in, if you put in the hard work and change your perspective you will persevere.' SDSU President Adela de la Torre commended the class for their accomplishment in an address to the class during Thursday's ceremony. 'What we can achieve in the future should not be defined by our worst moments,' she said. 'Completing your degree is evidence of your tenacity and hard work, your care and hope for the future, and your potential – and those are the qualities that truly define you.' More classes of incarcerated men at Centinela State Prison are set to graduate through the VISTA program in the coming years, with its third-ever class set to begin their studies in the fall. The university says work is underway to expand the program, including the creation of new tools to support student learning, introduction of a humanities degree and development of a 'toolkit' to help other institutions to introduce similar higher education programs in prisons. According to the university, this work is supported by a $1 million from the Mellon Foundation received last year. 'Our dedicated team of faculty and fellows have a powerful combination of lived and academic experience,' said Buckley. 'We are grateful to be part of this national movement to expand higher education, and are extremely proud to see our first graduates become SDSU alumni.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Upstate AmeriCorp members impacted as DOGE terminates grants
SPARTANBURG, S.C (WSPA) – According to the United Way of the Piedmont, more than $400 million in grant funding to AmeriCorp's services across the nation was abruptly cut by DOGE, impacting over 1,000 nonprofit and community organizations. AmeriCorps is a federal agency that works to provide disaster services, economic opportunity, education, environmental stewardship, and more. 'Without that, I mean, you're going to see a drastic reduction in the services that they're able to offer,' said Sarah Daniel, the Senior Director of Partnerships & Investments United Way. Eighteen programs across South Carolina, including ones with United Way of Greenville County and United Way of the Piedmont, were terminated due to a shift in federal priorities, according to Daniel. She explained, 'Regardless of whether the funding comes back, we're looking into ways that we can reverse that gap within our local community.' Since the start of the VISTA program in 2008, it has had over a $26 million economic impact. 'It's a great return on investment, so it's really disheartening to see that it's not a priority,' said Daniel. 'You know we've lost funding and our individuals in our community have lost their year of service and things like that.' 7News reached out to representative William Timmons (R-SC District 4), who is a member of the DOGE subcommittee. 'We have a $36 trillion national debt and a $2 trillion annual deficit. We are diligently identifying waste, fraud, and abuse across government,' Timmons said. United Way said they don't believe there was fraud or mismanagement, especially in their chapter. 'It's definitely frustrating and I understand the desire to make sure that we're using taxpayer dollars efficiently, but I just don't know that this is that this is the right way to do it,' Daniel said. Two AmeriCorps NCCC teams, which focused on disaster recovery across Spartanburg County, were demobilized before the end of their service term. The United Way of the Piedmont said the teams provided 1,152 total hours toward disaster relief and debris removal, served 735 hours at VITA free tax prep community clinic and prepared 389 tax returns, resulting in $268,756 in total refunds for local families. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Star
05-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
FUELLING TALENT GROWTH
FOR over three decades, Petroliam Nasional Bhd (PETRONAS) has been a catalyst for nurturing highly skilled talent within the oil and gas industry, evolving in tandem with the sector's growing complexity and innovation. As the company celebrates over 50 years of operations, it continues to champion workforce development, notably through its Vocational Institution Sponsorship and Training Assistance (VISTA) programme. Steady pipeline of talent Delivered in collaboration with key industry players, VISTA ensures technical training remains aligned to real-world needs, helping build a robust pipeline of talent equipped for the dynamic energy landscape. Launched in 1992, VISTA is now enhanced as VISTA i-Plus—a more integrated and industry-led model designed to ensure a steady flow of skilled professionals, not only for PETRONAS, but for the oil and gas ecosystem at large. 'This is not just a PETRONAS initiative, it is a collective commitment by the industry, for the industry,' said PETRONAS senior vice president and group chief human resource officer Ruslan Islahudin. 'Through VISTA i-Plus, we're creating a structured, collaborative ecosystem where industry players, government agencies and institutions work hand-in-hand to build future-ready talent.' To date, the programme has supported 35 institutions nationwide and channelled over RM90mil to train nearly 12,000 graduates in critical oil and gas skillsets. The company's long-standing partnership approach strengthens the oil and gas services and equipment (OGSE) sector by expanding access to competent talent, particularly in high-demand areas such as 6G welding, scaffolding and rigging, pipefitting and welding inspection. PETRONAS has benchmarked the enhanced model against best practices from 10 leading technical and vocational education and training (TVET) nations, including Germany, South Korea and Australia, where strong industry-education-government collaboration is the common denominator of success. 'Malaysia has more than 1,300 TVET institutions, with around 500 linked to oil and gas trades. Strengthening this ecosystem together is vital to meeting industry demands and unlocking broader economic impact,' said Ruslan. Ruslan Islahudin VISTA i-Plus Central to VISTA i-Plus is the newly established VISTA Advisory Council, comprising leaders from key industry bodies including Malaysia Petroleum Resources Corporation, Malaysian Oil, Gas and Energy Services Council, Human Resources Development Corporation, Petroleum Arrangement Contractors and PETRONAS. The council plays a pivotal role in co-shaping a unified workforce development strategy for the oil and gas industry, ensuring VISTA i-Plus is governed not by one company but by the collective voice of the sector. The programme also features two other governance platforms—the VISTA Working Committee, which oversees execution, and the VISTA Engagement Network, which provides training institutions with centralised resources and knowledge sharing. Together, these bodies form a responsive and resilient framework that keeps the model attuned to evolving industry needs. The success of the VISTA i-Plus model can be measured through several metrics, including the take-up rate of the programmes, courses and initiatives, active overall participation in supporting the model, and an increase in the employability rate to meet the talent demand in the oil and gas industry. Its effectiveness can also be gauged through in-kind support from industry players, mechanisms to leverage existing levies, the establishment of VISTA i-Plus as the preferred choice among industry stakeholders, and the capacity of learning institutions to produce a talent pool that aligns with market demands. Collaborative ecosystem Ruslan added that the 'by industry, for industry' philosophy is central to the VISTA i-Plus approach and is underpinned by the strong commitment of key stakeholders, who actively participate as council members. This commitment, he said, will ensure the model's long-term sustainability, with clear roles, responsibilities and aligned expectations for all involved. 'Other industries beyond oil and gas could benefit from adopting similar collaborative models, creating cross-industry synergy. 'For example, welders trained through specialised courses can apply their skills in both the oil and gas industry and the automotive industry, fostering a versatile workforce,' Ruslan added. Looking ahead, PETRONAS has identified three strategic priorities for VISTA i-Plus—aligning training to current industry demands, embedding practical hands-on learning and fostering strong industry participation through mentoring, career pathways and continuous development opportunities. 'Developing talent cannot be done in silos. Through VISTA i-Plus, we are reinforcing our belief that talent development is a shared responsibility, and when we do it together, we build a stronger, more sustainable industry for all,' said Ruslan.
