Hy-Vee and Iowa College Access Network (ICAN) partner to deliver Career & College Planning Services to Iowa students

Hy-Vee is partnering with the Iowa College Access Network (ICAN) to deliver informational and innovative college and career readiness programming and resources to students and parents across Iowa. This partnership will enable more than 40,000 high school students and families to better understand how to be prepared for college, and for potential career options during and after high school.
“Hy-Vee believes in giving back to our communities, and especially to Iowa students, who are the future of our state’s workforce,” said Tonia Petterson, Hy-Vee’s assistant vice president of recruiting. “We understand that our company’s future success is dependent on hiring quality employees who can provide helpful smiles to our customers. Our partnership with ICAN is another way we can show our commitment to organizations that transform today’s youth into tomorrow’s community leaders.”
As part of its strategic collaboration with ICAN, Hy-Vee will partner with ICAN on its Freshman Transition Program, which will target students making the move from middle school to high school. The program focuses on the importance of creating a solid foundation during freshman year of high school, and continuing to build upon that foundation with career assessments, job shadows, internships and academic planning each year.
This program enables students to discover their talents and interests while developing a map of potential career pathways. Seventy-five schools across Iowa will hold Freshman Transition events, providing a platform to engage and inform more than 15,000 students, parents and family members on the importance of making informed decisions regarding life after high school.
“Informed decision-making is more important today than ever,” said Rob Miller, executive director for the Iowa College Access Network (ICAN). “Today’s students face difficult choices in terms of college affordability and a changing economy. It’s important for Iowa businesses to help students gain access to information and resources about educational and career opportunities.”
“It’s also important to have partners, like Hy-Vee, support these initiatives,” continued Miller. “Having a respected business and community leader involved not only raises the level of impact that ICAN programs have, but also provides tangible examples of quality career options available to Iowans in both rural and urban communities.”
In addition to the support within area high schools, Hy-Vee has also signed on as a premier sponsor of the 25th Annual Golden Circle College & Career Fair. Golden Circle is the largest college fair in the state of Iowa, bringing more than 150 colleges and universities from across the state and the nation together with more than 3,000 Iowa students and parents.
“As we celebrate the 25th year of Golden Circle, we are excited to bring Hy-Vee on board,” stated Miller. “Through this initiative with Hy-Vee, we hope to expand Golden Circle to include businesses representing various industry and career clusters, providing an opportunity for students to align their future educational experience with a good-paying job from a statewide Iowa business.”
The ICAN Partnership Program is open to any business, organization or institution with the desire to support long-term economic growth and success for Iowa communities and citizens. ICAN’s work in career and college readiness programming includes age-appropriate in-person presentations, printed guidebooks, access to a comprehensive website, electronic resources containing monthly planning tips and student reminders, and unlimited access to ICAN’s staff of college and career planning experts, via phone or in person, for one-on-one assistance.
ICAN’s programs and services are developed and presented by ICAN’s highly trained student success advisors on topics such as high school planning, college and career planning, financial literacy, successful college transitions and financial aid. ICAN serves more than 500,000 students and parents annually. Students are encouraged to check with their high school counseling offices for the dates, times and locations of ICAN presentations in their area or visit www.ICANsucceed.org/calendar. Students can also contact ICAN toll-free at 877-272-4692, emailing ICAN@ICANsucceed.org, or visiting www.icansucceed.org.