EPIC (Employer Provided Innovation Challenges) is a national initiative led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation that connects students with real-world, employer-designed challenges to build in-demand skills while solving authentic business problems.
Through EPIC, employers translate real needs into short-term, project-based challenges that can be embedded into classrooms or co-curricular experiences, giving students meaningful exposure to careers, industries and professional expectations.
Through this pilot, the Oakland Schools Education Foundation (OSEF) will sponsor EPIC participation for high school students across Oakland County, removing barriers to access and ensuring students can engage in meaningful, real-world learning experiences. The pilot will serve up to 250 students drawn from the Oakland Schools Technical Campuses (OSTC) and local school districts throughout the county, providing a diverse cross-section of learners exposure to employer-designed innovation challenges. By investing in EPIC, OSEF is helping students build critical, transferable skills, explore career pathways, and connect classroom learning to real workforce needs—while strengthening the talent pipeline for Oakland County’s employers.
In year one of the pilot during spring 2025, two teams of students from OSTC–Southwest participated in EPIC and were selected to present their final projects directly to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the national EPIC network in Washington, DC. This opportunity highlighted the quality of student work emerging from Oakland County and demonstrated how employer-driven, project-based learning can elevate student voices onto a national stage.
Be EPIC!
Join EPIC and help shape the future workforce. Schools bring learning to life with real-world challenges, and employers build their talent pipeline by engaging students early—together creating meaningful pathways from education to career.