NAF Next 2023 Recap: Perspectives
About 900 educators, as well as community leaders and partners, came together at NAF Next 2023, in Phoenix, AZ, to share perspectives and skills with our academies to support them in helping students become college, career, and future ready!
On day one of NAF Next, NAF CEO Lisa Dughi, shared some exciting announcements, including the launch of Outcomes-Driven Work-Based Learning, the 35th anniversary of our Hospitality & Tourism Pathway, and the official launch of KnoPro this fall. Special guest speaker, Julia Freeland Fisher, shared insightful tips on the value of social capital, and we were all captivated by the inspiring keynote by Collette V. Smith, the NFL’s first Black female coach.
Over lunch, we experienced a riveting performance by slam poet, Myrlin Hepworth, with live painting by artist, Lance Johnson. And, as we celebrated the coming launch of KnoPro, three students presented their KnoPro ideas Shark Tank-style! The winning idea: Access AI education by NAF Academy of Entrepreneurship student, Apramey Akkiraju, of Mountain Ridge High School in Glendale, AZ.
In addition, we celebrated over 200 academies reaching Katherine Blasik Distinguished Level, and two academies, Lancaster High School, Academy of Finance and Robert Morgan Educational Center, Academy of Hospitality and Tourism, were honored with the 2023 Weill Award for exhibiting NAF’s highest standards!
Student speaker, Ramandeep Girn, a 2023 graduate of the Academy of Finance and Enterprise and soon-to-be Fordham University student, kicked off Day 2 of our conference with insights into the power of NAF’s work-based learning opportunities, which impacts more than 100,000 students like Ramandeep every year.
After Ramandeep’s speech, was the graduates and alumni panel, led by Dr. Keisha Stephenson Taylor. Recent graduates Ramandeep and Tegan Bernard of the Academy of Entrepreneurship at Mountain Ridge High School, and alumni Shawniquica Henry (Academy of Finance, Class of 2007) and Neil Walia (Academy of Entrepreneurship, Class of 2020), shared how their NAF educators, mentorship with industry experts, internship opportunities, and growing connections with the NAF Alumni Network continues to transform their path to success.
Later on, we awarded Lenovo the Internship Champion Award and celebrated welcoming 35 new academies for the 2023-24 school year.
That evening was the network’s time to shine! During our celebration dinner, we celebrated our Alumni Award Winners: Julie Kennedy (Academy of Hospitality and Tourism, Class of 2004), Jennifer L. Montgomery (Academy of Finance, Class of 2008), and Connor J. Nolan (Academy of Finance, Class of 2011); our Janet Linton Leadership Award Winners: Principal Paul Jackson of Scotlandville Magnet High School, Debbie Moore of Mountain Ridge High School, Academy of Entrepreneurship, and Jennie Aguirre of Gladstone High School, Academy of Health Sciences; and our Advisory Board Award Winner: Audrey Hamernik of the Academy of Finance, Depew High School. All of this and more was a cause for celebration as we came together to hit the dance floor to the Cupid Shuffle!
Click through our NAF Next social media coverage below to see our photos and feed of each memorable moment. Who knows, you might even see yourself enjoying the celebration!
- Check out the NAF Next 2023 highlight video reel!
- View our Facebook album
- Watch our Day 1 and Day 2 Instagram Reels
- Download your NAF Next photo booth image
- Download your Celebration Dinner photo booth image
Share your favorite moment from the conference on social media and tag us @nafcareeracads and use the hashtag #NAFNext.
See you next year, in Orlando!
