LearningRx Leads Annual, Award-Winning Job Shadow Program

Maureen Loftus, executive director of LearningRx of Vienna, Va., and Reston, Va. is leading the sixth annual Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce (TRCC) job shadow program, in partnership with Fairfax County Public Schools, for almost 90 11th and 12th grade Fairfax County students, which is a 50 percent increase in student participation from last year. Students applied from James Madison High School, George C. Marshall High School, Marshall Academy, Oakton High School and Mountain View High School in Fairfax County, Va. Students can shadow professionals in more than 30 industries for one day from January through March 2018. In 2014, the TRCC job shadow program earned the Workforce Development award from Fairfax County and FCPS. Loftus is heading up the program as she is the chair of the TRCC’s Youth and Education Committee. For more information, go to www.learningrx.com.

More than 30 organizations are hosting students for a day including Vienna Animal Hospital, Intelsat, Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office, MITRE, Navy Federal Credit Union, Stratac Marketing, Tower Club, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Impact Biz, VA Tire and Yext.

“We are excited by the continued growth of our job shadow program. With a 50 percent increase in participation, we know students are looking to get hands on job experience,” said Maureen Loftus, executive director of LearningRx of Reston, Va. and Vienna, Va. and chair of the Youth and Education Committee of the Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce. “Given the huge increase in student participation this year, we’re also so grateful to have a business community that supports our program and provides such great learning experiences for the teenagers,” said Loftus.

Students that are interested the TRCC Job Shadow Program filled out an application to select their areas of career interests. Job shadow programs are available in the more than 30 professions including: veterinary, cyber-security, law enforcement/criminal justice, sales/marketing, culinary, non-profit management, software development and human resources. For more details, go to www.tysonschamber.org.

The job shadow orientations were conducted by Navy Federal Credit Union’s Training Department to prepare the students on how to conduct themselves appropriately in the professional workplace.

Loftus has been the TRCC’s Youth and Education Committee chairperson for the past five years and a TRCC member for five years.