Every year, the American Enterprise Institute’s Initiative on Public Faith & Public Life awards six different undergraduate students around the country to the Young Scholars Award Program. This program aims to provide students with the opportunity to complete academic research on a subject of their choosing.
Bill Mouchette, a senior double major in economics and finance, is one of the six recipients of this program.
Mouchette’s research aims to raise awareness of young men and why there is a decline in their participation in the workforce.
“Personally, I am researching the effects of career and technical education [CTE] on young men.” Mouchette said, “One big issue our country is facing is the struggles that young men are having. Men are leading the workforce and there has been a huge drop in employment.”
Mouchette explained what he found in the data he collected.
“I’m trying to see if the data can show if there is a positive correlation between funding technical education and men participating in the labor force which would show that they do find purpose. That they are working because of what they’ve learned,” Mouchette said.
Mouchette is looking forward to being able to research something that he is passionate about, and that will help others.
Mouchette said, “I’ve been interested in this topic for a very long time and saw this as an opportunity to research further while I am an undergraduate.”
Mouchette hopes that his findings will help men feel more seen and appreciated in the workplace.
“Young men have a purpose and can make a contribution to society, and we should start funding it more, and if not, we should encourage it,” Mouchette said.
Mouchette chose this topic because it is something very close to him.
“I came to Christ my senior year of high school, and when I was in high school, I struggled with depression. People don’t realize how many young men struggle with depression and anxiety, and a sense of purposelessness.”
Mouchette’s experiences and desire to help those around him are what drives him.
“I want others to understand each other and love each other,” Mouchette said. “We are imperfect individuals but if we can come together in an unselfish manner, we can seek to do the best for others before ourselves.”
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