LUMIN Schools Receives Grant Valued at $100,000 to Fund VR Career Exploration

MILWAUKEE, Wisc. – LUMIN Schools, a local system of seven schools serving grades K-8 greater Milwaukee-area, was one of the recipients of this year’s CareerViewXR Production Grant. This funding will allow LUMIN to have access to CareerViewXR’s immersive career exploration platform during the 2024-2025 school year, bringing the job site to the classroom through web-based tours and companion virtual reality (VR) videos. LUMIN Schools is the only school system in Wisconsin, and one of only three school systems across the nation, to receive this award.

“We are profoundly grateful to CareerViewXR for their generous support and to our local businesses and organizations for their partnerships,” said Shaun Luehring, President and CEO of LUMIN Schools, upon accepting the award. “This grant will give our students an accessible, exciting way to explore careers in the classroom and be inspired to dream for their futures.”

In addition to two VR headsets and a 12-month CareerViewXR subscription for up to 5,000 students, LUMIN will film two new VR videos with Wisconsin partners. The videos will be produced by a local LUMIN partner highlighting career experiences with aspects unique to the Wisconsin job market. The grant package is valued at up to $100,000 per organization.

The CareerViewXR Production Grant attracted a diverse range of applicants from schools and educational organizations in over a dozen states. Inspired and backed by the 2023 Yass Prize Semifinalist award, won by both CareerViewXR and LUMIN Schools, the purpose of the grant initiative is to provide access to immersive career exploration opportunities for tens of thousands of students across the country, while simultaneously developing partnerships with innovative schools, organizations and industry leaders.

“We are constantly seeking to expand and enhance the CareerViewXR library of content. The best way to do that is by showcasing best-in-class partnerships between schools and employers,” said Matt Chaussee, CEO of CareerViewXR. “We’re honored to allocate production resources toward additional experiences with education innovators who have demonstrated an outstanding ability to help students clearly define their career path.”

About LUMIN: The LUMIN network of schools offers a transformational educational experience tailored for urban communities. Its mission centers on providing a safe, faith-based learning environment where students from urban backgrounds can excel academically and develop strong leadership skills. The comprehensive curriculum is designed to ensure students meet and exceed grade-level expectations, equipping them for success in high school, college, and their future careers. By integrating spiritual growth with a rigorous academic framework, LUMIN Schools aims to produce resilient, community-minded individuals poised for professional success. As a beacon of hope and progress, LUMIN Schools addresses the unique challenges of urban education, equipping its students with the necessary tools for a prosperous future.

About CareerViewXR: CareerViewXR is an immersive career exploration platform that brings the job site to the classroom through 360-degree web-based tours and companion virtual reality videos. Students and adult job seekers alike can explore engaging field trips and job shadows highlighting in-demand industries like skilled trades, healthcare, energy, and more. VR headsets are completely optional; the content is accessible on devices schools already own – including laptops, cell phones and tablets.

CareerViewXR is the flagship product of Be More Colorful, a Fargo, North Dakota educational technology startup that specializes in immersive technology solutions for solving workforce development problems. Co-founded by husband-and-wife team Matt and Katie Chaussee, the company has been at the forefront of creating immersive media solutions that help people make better decisions about where they choose to live, learn, work and play.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.