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The Importance of Online Expansion of Y Stem and Chess Inc.

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+ Students practicing chess on computers +
+ Students practicing their chess skills in the classroom +
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+ The Importance of Online Expansion of Y STEM and Chess Inc. focuses + on using technology to scale. Yes, we are nonprofit but more + fundamentally we are a technology company. Technology will help + individualize lessons in chess, math, and computer science. + Individualized lessons will be conducted online via our website to + help rural and urban communities that lack access to resources in + High School or pay for courses at other institutions. The rural and + urban companies simply don’t have the resources to prepare students + for success in STEM. Using the proven aspects of our program, we can + change the future of students that have largely been excluded from + the high-paying jobs that STEM provides while increasing inclusivity + and lowering poverty. +

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+ "Our goal is to have all our students feel that they belong because they do" +

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+ The development of our curriculum online will accelerate the expansion + of our program by lowering the cost and the logistical concerns for + mentors. Most mentors come from STEM backgrounds and are located in + cities. By moving the program online, they can easily mentor from + work, school, or home and reach students in rural communities here in + Idaho. We can turn Idaho into a STEM powerhouse in just a few years. +

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+ Once we refine our curriculum and approach, YSC will roll out our + program in other geographic and demographic regions across the + country. This will provide critical feedback that will help ease the + challenges of expansion. The more mentors we have, the more students + we can get into the program, and the faster we can fill STEM-related + jobs. +

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+ Online access by students and mentors will allow us to quickly scale + our program and curriculum. It eliminates geographical supply issues + regarding mentors that can play chess, tutor math, or teach computer + science. Our mentors will be primarily focused on relationship building + and student community development. Our goal is to have all our + students feel that they belong because they do. Think of our mentors as + the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of STEM. Mentors are the critical + support factor in a student’s STEM success. +

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+ A student standing and holding a trophy alongside their mentor. +
+ A student with their mentor after winning an award. +
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+ The greater access we have to schools and school districts we will + have greater access to middle-class families and above. We offer our + platform for free to our community partners like schools but we + charge the families that can afford our service. We charge just $25 a + week per lesson and that has kept us profitable over the last 2 + years. The greater our reach the greater our donations and the more + students we can help through our free program. +

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+ Students love having control of their learning because they feel + empowered. Most of the students we focus on come from challenging + backgrounds and will benefit greatly from the positive attention. As + will their families and communities. +

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