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Grants promote technology, manufacturing education

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Exactly one year since its official kick off, the Dream It. Do It. Virginia-Shenandoah Valley campaign announces mini-grant recipients to help connect Valley students with careers in advanced technology and manufacturing.

Fifteen mini-grant recipients will receive a total of $95,904 to implement activities that encourage students to explore careers in manufacturing, healthcare, information technology, construction, and green related occupations. Implementation of the awarded projects will impact over 7,000 students, in 19 high schools, seven technical centers, and six middle schools.

The campaign is managed by the Shenandoah Valley Partnership and the Shenandoah Valley Workforce Investment Board and covers 20 localities – from Frederick County in the north to Botetourt County in the south. The mini-grants are a partnership between SVP, SVWIB, the Tech Prep Consortia from Lord Fairfax Community College, Blue Ridge Community College, and Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, and funding partners: the City of Harrisonburg, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance and the Shenandoah Valley Energy Partnership.

“The DIDIV-SV mini-grants support our goal to enlighten the workforce of the future and assure that the worker pipeline is filled with the same productive employees that have always been the hallmark of the Valley,” said Robin Sullenberger, CEO of the Shenandoah Valley Partnership.

“This regional collaboration through DIDIV-SV will provide an opportunity for thousands of students to explore manufacturing and other advanced technology industries. It provides a foundation on which to build tomorrow’s workers,” said Sharon Johnson, director of the Shenandoah Valley Energy Partnership.

The recipients of the Dream It. Do It. Virginia-Shenandoah Valley mini-grants are:

  • Admiral Richard E. Byrd Middle School, Dowell J. Howard Technical Center, Frederick County Middle School, James Wood High School, James Wood Middle School, Millbrook High School, R.E. Aylor Middle School, and Sherando High School (Frederick County) – to support the implementation of Alternative Energy learning modules into the engineering, electricity and carpentry, and technology education programs.
  • Botetourt Technical Education Center, Floyd S. Kay Technical Center, Jackson River Technical Center, Mertz Technical Center, and Parry McCluer High School (Alleghany, Bath, Botetourt, and Rockbridge Counties, Buena Vista and Covington) – to support student tours of four programs at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College: forest management technology, welding technology, advanced manufacturing and packaging technology, and wind turbine service technology.
  • Clarke County High School (Clarke County) – to support a FIRST Robotics team, mentored by local industries.
  • Fauquier High School (Fauquier County) – to support the implementation of Green Construction learning modules into the building trades program.
  • John Handley High School (Winchester) – to support a career fair featuring local industries.
  • Montevideo Middle School (Rockingham County) – to support a student-led production of a television broadcast focused on the “green” movement.
  • Parry McClure High School (Buena Vista) – to support tours of and presentations by a local manufacturer of energy recovery products.
  • Robert E. Lee High School (Staunton) – to support industry tours and follow-up projects related to engineering, science and software development, and graphic design and management.
  • Valley Vocational Technical Center (Augusta County) – to support the start of an in-facility state testing site for Certified Nursing Aides.
  • Waynesboro High School (Waynesboro) – to support industry tours in local healthcare, manufacturing, agribusiness, financial, and educational organizations.
  • Wilson Middle School (Augusta County) – to design and produce packaging for a student produced product with a focus on recycled materials and efficient manufacturing processes.
  • Winchester-Frederick County Economic Development Commission (Winchester and Frederick County) – to support industry tours by area students, teachers and counselors.
  • Page County Technical Center – to design, install, test and maintain a small solar photovoltaic system.
  • Massanutten Technical Center (Rockingham County) – to use solar cells to create a source of off-grid renewable energy to power a series of computers and control a programmable robotic arm.
  • Rappahannock County High School – for home energy auditing and building performance retrofitting

For more information about Dream It. Do It. Virginia-Shenandoah Valley, visit www.dreamit-doit.com/Virginia/shenandoah.

Edited by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at [email protected].

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