Welcome back to Extra Credit, a weekly roundup of education-related news from across Southwest and Southside Virginia.
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Governor gives commencement speech at Virginia Tech
Gov. Abigail Spanberger praised outgoing Virginia Tech President Tim Sands in a commencement speech Friday morning. Her address continued the university’s tradition of inviting new governors to deliver a speech.
In her approximately 15-minute speech, Spanberger also praised Virginia Tech alumni and called on students to look to Sands for inspiration.
“President Sands has led Virginia Tech for over a decade with a vision and an unwavering commitment to the students at this university,” she said. “Under his leadership, Virginia Tech has enhanced research innovation, has grown enrollment, and expanded the university’s footprint throughout the commonwealth.”
She also encouraged the more than 6,500 graduates to consider careers in public service and to remain open to what their futures hold while staying true to the values, or internal compass, that drive them.
“The Class of 2026, you get to choose what the words on your diploma mean for you, that mark of success and of the hardships and challenges you’ve overcome on the path that you are on,” she said. “And when the path gets hard, remember the lessons that you learned here, the challenges you faced, the success that you earned and trust your compass. Never ever stop looking for ways to do good in your community, in your Commonwealth and in your country.”
School divisions awarded funding to upgrade CTE equipment
Several school divisions in Southwest and Southside Virginia were among 16 awarded funding to upgrade their career and technical equipment.
The state funding was part of $600,000 in competitive grants through the Virginia Department of Education meant to “[deepen] partnerships with school divisions to provide robust CTE experiences for Virginia’s learners,” according to Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Jenna Conway.
Each division will receive $37,500 to purchase new equipment and make other improvements.
The divisions receiving funds include:
- Alleghany Highland Public Schools for its emergency medical telecommunications and public safety simulation lab
- Appomattox County Public Schools to expand its agricultural fabrication programs
- Amherst County to provide immersive career exploration through virtual reality for students at Amherst and Monelison Middle schools and Amherst Elementary School
- Bath County for the hybrid and electric vehicle systems programs at Mertz Career and Technical Center
- Danville City Schools for its hybrid repair systems program at George Washington High School
- Giles County for its aerospace program at the Giles County Technology Center
- Prince Edward County to provide industry-standard automotive and culinary training equipment at Prince Edward County High School
- Wythe County for its agricultural mechanics and precision manufacturing programs at the Wythe County Technology Center
“A student in a Virginia CTE program deserves better than training on yesterday’s tools for tomorrow’s jobs,” Conway said in a statement. “These investments in modern equipment close that gap by putting real, industry-grade technology in the hands of every learner and turning our schools into the front line of Virginia’s workforce future.”
The Virginia General Assembly first established the CTE equipment grant program in 2016, and the state has since awarded about $6 million to schools and technical centers.
Roanoke City Public Schools highlights career and technical education
Roanoke City Public Schools leaders are celebrating student achievements and the division’s career and technical education efforts.
Superintendent Verletta White recently represented superintendents statewide as president-elect of the Virginia Association of School Superintendents on a panel discussing the launch of the Virginia Business-K12 Partnership.
The group, modeled after the long-established Virginia Higher Education Business Council, announced its launch in Richmond Wednesday.
Its 21-member board includes leaders from across Virginia’s business and education communities, and its mission centers on raising awareness of the connection between K-12 education, economic growth and workforce development, or as White called it in a news release, “ensuring students graduate with both a diploma and resume of rich skills and experiences that will benefit them for a lifetime.”
During Wednesday’s panel, White highlighted Roanoke Valley school divisions’ approaches to workforce development programs, including the area’s growing network of business and community partnerships and expansion of work-based learning opportunities.
On Thursday, the school division will also celebrate more than two dozen CTE students who are completing career and technical education pathways.
Students will receive awards, scholarships and even tools and equipment. The event will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Charles W. Day Technical Education Center, 3605 Ferncliff Ave. N.W. Go here for more information.
Lynchburg Bonner Leaders recognized for community service
The University of Lynchburg graduated its 20th class of Bonner Leaders earlier this month.
Five students graduated from the program, which is supported by the Corella & Bertram F. Bonner Foundation across 70 schools nationwide, according to a news release.
The program emphasizes community service and civic engagement. During the academic year, Bonner Leaders serve at least 10 hours a week in work-study roles at area nonprofits, schools or agencies.
“It’s a cohort-based, community-engagement program, where our students are responding to pressing social issues of our time through service and community-based learning,” said Tasha Gillum, the University of Lynchburg’s assistant director of service learning and civic engagement, in a statement.
Program participants also complete a capstone project as a “culminating experience.”
According to the Bonner Foundation, this project “serves a civic purpose” and “can allow the student to do something that builds the capacity of a local community or promotes awareness and action on a social issue.”
This year’s graduates include:
- Elizabeth Johnson of King George, who completed her service at the Free Clinic of Central Virginia.
- Lydia Nelson of Springfield, who served at Brook Hill Farm, a therapeutic riding facility in Bedford County.
- Jack Pitts of Lynchburg, who served at the Free Clinic of Central Virginia.
- Destin Stringer of Lynchburg, who served at the Free Clinic of Central Virginia’s dental clinic.
- Kaitlyn Regan of Lynchburg, who will graduate from the university in December and served with the Lynchburg Fire Department.
