First-of-Its-Kind College Business Credit Partnership Created by SPC and Junior Achievement

St. Petersburg College has launched a first-of-its-kind partnership with Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay that will give students in the 3DE by Junior Achievement program a new pathway to college credit and career opportunities.

3DE is short for Three-Dimensional Education, a high school instructional model by Junior Achievement that integrates real-world business challenges into traditional curriculum to boost engagement, critical thinking and career readiness.

Announced April 7 at SPC’s St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus, the new articulation agreement allows students who complete the 3DE Schools program to earn up to 12 college credit hours toward an Associate in Science in Business Administration degree at SPC.

The agreement is the first in the nation to award college credit for completion of the 3DE instructional model and creates new opportunities not only for students in Tampa Bay, but also for students participating in 3DE programs across the country.

Recognizing Real-World Learning

Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay serves 12 counties and develops programs focused on financial literacy, entrepreneurship and career readiness. Its 3DE by Junior Achievement model is a career-connected learning experience that integrates business case methodology, entrepreneurship and leadership development into the high school curriculum.

Originally launched in Atlanta in 2015, the 3DE model was introduced in Tampa Bay in 2020 and has continued to grow across the region. By fall 2026, it is expected to be implemented in 17 high schools across five west Florida districts. Nationally, the program is now available in 80 schools across 13 states.

The model is designed as a four-year high school experience. Students work on real-world business challenges, collaborate with professionals, build problem-solving and public speaking skills and develop a stronger understanding of career pathways and workplace expectations.

SPC’s new agreement formally recognizes the rigor of that experience and the college-level skills students gain throughout the program.

“This isn’t about adding more classes, it’s about recognizing rigor, relevance and real mastery,” said Christina Roberts, chief development officer for Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay. “That work led us to today’s announcement: an articulation agreement awarding 12 college credits toward an Associate of Science degree in Business for approved 3DE graduates.”

A Partnership Built Through Collaboration

The partnership was years in the making and grew out of SPC’s deeper involvement with the 3DE program.

During the 2023–24 school year, Dean Emmanuel Hernández-Agosto and the SPC College of Business team served as consultancy partners for 3DE seniors at St. Petersburg High School, helping students work through a real-world challenge focused on increasing SPC enrollment through international student recruitment.

At the same time, SPC conducted a comprehensive review of the 3DE curriculum across grades 9 through 12, ultimately determining that students who complete the program demonstrate the equivalent of college-level learning in key business areas.

“By formalizing this articulation, the College of Business has moved beyond traditional academic boundaries to validate the high-level, real-world consultancy work these students have already mastered,” said Hernández-Agosto, dean of SPC’s College of Business. “This agreement creates an accelerated, digital-first highway for the next generation of business leaders to move seamlessly from the classroom to the boardroom.”

Creating More Equitable Pathways to College

For many students, traditional dual enrollment or advanced academic pathways may not always be accessible. Leaders say the 3DE model helps close that gap by engaging students who may not begin high school already connected to a magnet, IB or career-specific track.

“While the district offers strong dual-enrollment opportunities and is already a valued partner with SPC, this pathway is not always accessible to all 3DE students,” said Lindsay Pena, chief academic officer at Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay. “The strategic partnership with St. Petersburg College reinforces the college’s mission to empower its students and community to achieve success and economic mobility through academic excellence and engagement.”

That alignment is part of what makes the agreement especially meaningful for SPC.

As a college committed to access, innovation and workforce development, SPC continues to expand opportunities that help students save time, reduce costs and move more confidently into college and career pathways.

Supporting Student Success and Workforce Readiness

Leaders across education and industry say the partnership also reflects a broader investment in the future workforce.

“The hallmark of 3DE is developing core competencies that apply to any industry,” said Kevin Hendrick, superintendent of Pinellas County Schools. “3DE exposes students to universal skills, such as public speaking and problem solving, that are important in both their personal and professional lives.”

The program’s success is also supported by strong collaboration with the business community. More than 57 local business and industry organizations are embedded in the 3DE curriculum through volunteerism, mentorship and real-world case engagement.

Among them is Raymond James, an early supporter of 3DE in Tampa Bay and a current funder of operations in Pinellas County and the broader region.

“As a large employer within the community, these metrics are important to us as we think about the future workforce,” said Andrea Masterson, vice president of community impact at Raymond James. “Maybe [these students will] become part of our workforce programs, maybe they’ll become a valued member of our team, or maybe they’ll just become a stronger member of the community.”

A National Model with Local Impact

For SPC, the partnership reflects more than a new transfer pathway — it represents a new model for how colleges can recognize high-quality, career-connected learning and create more direct routes to student success.

By becoming the first institution in the nation to award college credit through 3DE, SPC is helping set a precedent for how postsecondary institutions can support both academic mobility and workforce readiness.

The agreement also strengthens the College’s role as a leader in the region, connecting education, business and community partners to create meaningful opportunities for students and support long-term economic growth.

As Tampa Bay continues to expand its workforce and educational pipeline, SPC’s partnership with Junior Achievement helps ensure students are not only career-aware but college-ready — with a head start already in hand.