Honorees recognized for addressing educational disparity, unemployment and need for affordable housing....... "P-TECH (New York City) – Classroom learning and workplace experience come together at P-TECH, a public-private partnership co-developed by IBM that provides underserved students with an education to meet the challenges of the 21st century workforce."

BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- It may look like a traditional high school, but from the moment students like ShuDon Brown enter the P-TECH classrooms in Brooklyn, the expectations are different.

"I got my high school diploma and two-year associate's degrees by the time I was 16," said Brown. "I am just thankful for the program."

P-TECH Students describe the "Internet of Things"

When you provide ambitious students with access and opportunity, ideas and learning grow to new heights. The students at P-TECH in Brooklyn, NY are a perfect example of this. P-TECH is a public-private partnership model that blends classroom learning with workplace experiences at IBM, giving youth an opportunity to earn both a high school diploma and an associate degree in a technology discipline. These bright minds are mastering skills that underpin the nation’s fastest growing industries, while gaining critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills that 21st century jobs require. Co-created by IBM, the P-TECH model has spread to 40 schools around the country in just four years.

TED@IBM was a TED-curated event featuring a diverse group of speakers from across the IBM community. Jointly produced by TED and IBM, the event put a spotlight on ideas, projects and insights that will contribute to the importance of pushing forward through obstacles.

About the TED Institute: We know that innovative ideas and fresh approaches to challenging problems can be discovered inside visionary companies around the world. The TED Institute helps surface and share these insights. Every year, TED works with a group of select companies and foundations to identify internal ideators, inventors, connectors, and creators. Drawing on the same rigorous regimen that has prepared speakers for the TED main stage, TED Institute works closely with each partner, overseeing curation and providing intensive one-on-one talk development to sharpen and fine tune ideas.