Compton Early College HS Hosts Verizon Innovative Learning Lab Student Showcase

CUSD Media Release
April 18, 2024 

Over 100 Compton Early College High School scholars from 7th to 12th grade participated in the Verizon Innovative Learning Lab Student Showcase. Eighteen teams presented their student-created solutions to address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in honor of Earth Day.

The presentations were in a Shark Tank-style competition. They showcased ideas such as a smart city designed to address the impact of climate change on communities, a sustainable food system developed by students to end world hunger, a new city planning layout to allow for more natural spaces, an indoor farming initiative to cultivate fresh produce year-round, and more.

Representatives from Verizon, Arizona State University, and Heart of America joined CUSD Board Members, administrators, and Compton Early College staff as competition judges, evaluating and ranking the scholars’ presentations.

Compton Early College is part of the Verizon Innovative Learning initiative, which empowers students nationwide with new ways of learning through a technology-integrated curriculum, emerging technologies, and extensive support for educators.

Verizon Innovative Learning, Verizon’s award-winning education initiative, is celebrating over a decade of commitment to addressing barriers to digital inclusion for students and teachers. Since 2012, the program has committed $1 billion in market value to support digital equity, reaching over 7 million students.

Verizon Innovative Learning provides free technology, internet access, and emerging technology-infused learning programs to students in under-resourced communities — enabling students to develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to build an innovative workforce of the future.

A key initiative under Citizen Verizon, the company’s responsible business plan for economic, environmental, and social advancement, Verizon Innovative Learning is helping to drive the company’s goal to provide 10 million youths with digital skills training by 2030.

CUSD Board of Trustees President Micah Ali talks to CEC scholars. 

The Verizon Innovative Learning Lab program empowers schools all over the country to become hubs of innovation, combining immersive, emerging technology, including augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and 3D printers, with an innovative project-based curriculum and real-world problem-solving in a custom-designed, experiential learning space within the school’s campus.

CUSD Board of Trustees VP Satra Zurita at the opening ceremony. 

The J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute at Arizona State University created the curriculum and is supported by ongoing professional learning for effective implementation and sustainability. The Lab program also features a full space transformation co-designed and executed by Heart of America, a nonprofit with over 26 years of experience transforming school and community spaces into modern learning environments.

Compton Early College High School Principal Pamela Maddox and her team lead the project.

Photos by City Pride Magazine