Thru the Lens: Suffolk Construction's Northeast president Mark DiNapoli joined lieutenant governor Timothy Murray at the launch of YourPlanForCollege.org

Suffolk Construction's Northeast president Mark DiNapoli joined lieutenant governor Timothy Murray early this month at the launch of YourPlanForCollege.org, the Commonwealth's no-cost, one-stop, college and career planning portal now available for all students in Mass. DiNapoli, an appointee to governor Deval Patrick's Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Advisory Council, spoke with students, educators and government officials about future job opportunities in the innovation economy, and the need for college planning to capitalize on those opportunities. A free online portal that consolidates important resources and information, YourPlanforCollege helps families, parents and mentors as students plan for college and future careers. Before this statewide launch, students and families had access to these tools only in participating high schools. "The construction industry today is much different than it was when I went to college," stated DiNapoli. "At Suffolk, we can build entire buildings virtually using computer software, and iPads have replaced building plans on job sites. We are using technology to transform the industry. To continue to innovate and grow, we'll need college graduates with more than just good grades—we'll need leaders with technological curiosity." DiNapoli added, "Suffolk—and Massachusetts as a whole—will rely on your generation to strengthen our 'innovation economy' for the future. But to join this wave of exciting opportunities, you must begin with a dream and plan. The YourPlanforCollege website is an excellent place to start." "YourPlanForCollege is an integral part of our Administration's commitment to providing every child with access to higher education and a brighter future," said Lieutenant Governor Murray. "YourPlanForCollege has served as a critical resource within some high schools, and as the program expands to all high schools in the state, it will serve as a comprehensive tool to help prepare our students for the 21st century workforce." YourPlanForCollege centralizes all the data points of a student's educational career, including course history, grades, extracurricular activities, test scores, and graduation requirements. It also cues students on deadlines for their college application, financing and enrollment processes, and provides students with interactive tools so they can make informed decisions on continually evolving higher education and career choices within the state's diverse 'innovation economy.'