National Academy Foundation

Career opportunities and experience are the focus of the National Academy Foundation (NAF) and its programs serving Rochester City School students. Through NAF's Rochester chapter, students take career-focused courses, participate in special activities related to careers, and have an opportunity to receive valuable summer work internships.

The National Academy Foundation (NAF) is an acclaimed national network of high school career academies -- schools within schools -- based in urban districts, with rigorous, career-themed curricula created with current industry and educational expertise. Each year, NAF serves more than 50,000 students in over 500 Academies in 40 states and the District of Columbia through the Academy of Finance, the Academy of Engineering, the Academy of Hospitality & Tourism, and the Academy of Information Technology. NAF was founded by Sanford I. Weill, Chairman Emeritus of Citigroup Inc., as a partnership between business leaders and educators. Employees of more than 2,500 businesses support NAF students by securing paid internships, volunteering in classrooms, acting as mentors, and serving on local Advisory Boards. NAF's record of success with 90% graduation rates and more than 80% of these graduates going on to college, has garnered the support of corporations, public policy makers, and foundations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. For more information visit www.naf.org.

REF launched a partnership with NAF's Rochester chapter in June 2010. REF is working closely with the advisory board for the chapter to support the student work internship program, increase career opportunities for students, and engage the larger community in support for the opportunities offered through the program.

The NAF is a national program whose local chapter has been operating in Rochester since 2000. Academy programs focus on career paths including finance, tourism and IT at East, The School of Business, Finance & Entrepreneurship at Edison, and the International Finance & Career High School at Franklin. With Edison and Franklin High Schools being phased out, the program will continue to work with these schools and establish programs in other city high schools as resources allow.

Student internships filled by 25 students during the summer of 2010 include positions at Advantage Federal Credit Union, ESL Federal Credit Union, Innovative Solutions, and the Red Wings. Twenty of the 25 slots are funded privately by employers. The remaining five are funded through private contributions.

Nationally, four out of five participants in the program attend college or other post-secondary education. Individual employers have seen significant success from students involved in the program. For example, ESL Federal Credit Union has employed as interns an average of three students annually since 2004, according to Karen Davis, Vice President and Branch Center Director and former advisory board chair of NAF. Currently, there are five former NAF students employed at ESL. All students who have completed an ESL internship have gone on to college. Cortez Jones, one of ESL's first NAF interns has graduated from college and was recently promoted to Assistant Branch Manager.

REF will be working to obtain greater opportunities for students through the local chapter and expanding community involvement as internship providers, mentors and program committee members.

Support the Program

Use the button at right to make a donation in support of REF and the National Academy Foundation program.