Bizzell US Invests in the Next Generation of Stem Professionals
February 16, 2024 (Beaufort, SC) – Bizzell US (Bizzell) is proud to announce its latest collaboration with local and national leaders to support youth from diverse backgrounds pursuing careers in healthcare and medicine. As part of our ongoing commitment to equity across healthcare systems, Anton C. Bizzell, MD, Chairman & CEO, Bizzell, has partnered with The African American History Education Conference to lead important dialogue in Beaufort, South Carolina on the vital voices in medicine, leadership, and resilience in the African American community. The third annual African American History Education Conference, which is a historic collaborative effort, is sponsored by Beaufort County School District (BCSD), Technical College of the Lowcountry, University of South Carolina Beaufort, Penn Center, and the Gullah Geechie Cultural Heritage Corridor.
The African American History Education Conference aims to provide students, teachers, and staff with a transformative dive into the historical context of African American achievement through tours and engaging sessions led by locally and nationally renowned educators, authors, and entertainers. Keynote speaker Michael Boulware Moore, U.S. Congressman Candidate for District 1, shared insights on his personal history of activism and public service during the day.
At Bizzell, we know that the future holds tremendous promise, and supporting the next generation of medical professionals is paramount to ensuring a healthier and brighter tomorrow. With over 1500 students in the MED Tech 7 initiative as part of BCSD’s Magnet Schools Assistance Program, BCSD’s continued focus is on science and technology education for students in grades K -12. This program provides courses to help students develop the necessary STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) career development skills. Through this collaboration, Bizzell offers practical resources to empower and encourage students as they explore future career pathways through several other initiatives, such as our national Job Corps program.
Job Corps, the nation’s most extensive residential job training program, prepares young adults, ages 16-24, with education and firsthand career training for entry-level positions that lead to careers in today’s workforce. Bizzell further displayed its commitment to the future of healthcare and workforce innovation by providing students in the Med Tech 7 with white lab coats and medical kits full of supplies.
The white coat holds significant symbolism for clinicians and scientists, embodying values of professionalism, compassion, and dedication to discovery and community well-being. By gifting these symbolic tools to students who may face adversity due to varying social determinants of health, Dr. Bizzell reaffirms his commitment to equity by fostering confidence and pride in their abilities as they enter the workforce.
“Our mission at Bizzell is to drive positive change and uplift communities in meaningful ways,” said Dr. Bizzell. “By honoring and supporting our young people pursuing vocational and technical careers in STEM we are investing in a better future. As African Americans in the sciences, we must remove barriers, provide resources, empower students, and provide examples for them to emulate. All of these things are a part of nurturing their talent and assisting them with actualizing their dreams.”
About Bizzell US:
Bizzell is a consulting, strategy, investment, and technology firm headquartered in New Carrollton, Maryland, with offices in 20+ countries. Bizzell is a partner of choice for federal, state, and local government agencies, and private organizations. With a strong emphasis on innovation and impact, Bizzell transforms small ideas into powerful catalysts that drive change across markets worldwide.
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The projects were donated as part of Bizzell’s corporate social responsibility and addresses both sustainable and equitable access to safe drinking water which remains a challenge in Nigeria. “It is estimated that more than 60 million people in Nigeria do not have access to basic clean water supply and that number grows each year as a result of climate change and population growth”, according to Dr. Bizzell. “Water saves lives and providing clean water is more important now than ever which is why we decided to construct and donate the water projects to the Odo Ayedub and Oke Ako communities in the Ekiti State of Nigeria”.
The commissioning of the projects was preceded by a ceremony at the palace of the traditional ruler of Odo Ayedun-Ekiti, His Royal Majesty Oba Dr. Solomon Ilesanmi Ajibade JP (Ajigbotoluwa I), the Owa of Odo Ayedun, who expressed his gratitude on behalf of the community, and conferred the chieftaincy title of Balógun Akórewọ̀lú of Odo Ayedun-Ekiti on Dr. Anton C. Bizzell, in recognition of his contribution to the development of the community. Dr. Bizzell, an African-American who traces his ancestry to Nigeria through ancestry DNA testing was also named ‘Ọmọ́wálé’ and welcomed as a son of the community.
The chieftaincy and commissioning ceremonies were witnessed by a mammoth crowd from the community, as well as senior government officials, traditional rulers, and other community stakeholders. The Ekiti First Lady H.E. Erelu Bisi Fayemi, on behalf of the Government of Ekiti State, thanked Bizzell for the kind gesture and appealed to them to favorably consider scaling up the intervention to benefit more communities. In her words, “You will find the Government and people of Ekiti state – the land of honor – to be people of integrity, who will always follow through with commitments they make to you and ensure such interventions are protected and well maintained.”
