(Members of the Pulaski County government, along with visitors from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, toured the Automotive Technology program recently to see how Pulaski County students can benefit their businesses.)
The Pulaski County High School Career and Technical Education Center (CTE) recently received word that they are a part of a state-wide group of schools receiving a portion of $3 million in competitive state grants to be used for their CTE programs.
The grant, which is a one-time amount of $125,000 per school, is to be used to support programs offering industry-recognized certifications or credentials that are in demand by regional employers and the lead to employment opportunities.
The program, which was announced by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons, will benefit 24 school divisions and their career and technical education skilled trades programs.
“In Virginia and across the nation there are high-paying jobs in the skilled trades that go unfilled due to a shortage of qualified applicants,” Coons said. “I want to thank the General Assembly for recognizing the need to prepare more young people for these career opportunities and providing the funding for these grants.”
For PCHS, the grant will be used to upgrade the automotive technology, electricity, and engineering programs.
“Mr. Worrell, our Automotive Technology Program instructor, reached out about the grant as a funding source to purchase an alignment machine to upgrade to industry standards,” Mrs. Megan Atkinson, Director of CTE and the Governor’s STEM Academy at PCHS said. “The alternative energy vehicle industry in growling locally, with Volvo producing electric trucks now.”
“When writing the grant, we had two goals: to update our existing program to industry standards by purchasing an alignment machine for Automotive Technology while also preparing our students for jobs that match the developing industry trends in Pulaski County and the New River Valley,” Atkinson continued. “We are fortunate that the Virginia Department of Education recognizes the need to develop skills in maintaining and repairing alternative energy vehicles. Our Career and Technical Education programs are challenged daily with preparing students for jobs that do not exist yet. This grant will help us continue that work."
In addition to the alignment machine, the grant will be used to create an Electric Vehicle Training Lab that will be shared with the Automotive Technology, Electricity, Engineering, and Manufacturing programs at PCHS. Students in these programs will have the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge needed to maintain and repair Electric and Hybrid vehicles.
Other schools who will be receiving the grants include the counties of Amherst, Alington, Buckingham, Caroline, Dinwiddie, Fairfax, Halifax, Mathews, Montgomery, New Kent, Patrick, Prince Edward, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Russell, Shenandoah, Southampton, Stafford, and Wythe, as well as the cities and towns of Chesapeake, Danville, Hampton, and Richmond.
Programs at these schools that will be upgraded by the grant include welding, architecture, construction, transportation, distribution, logistics, nursing, HVAC, health and medical sciences, agriculture, teacher training, small engine repair, marketing, audio-visual technology, communications, and cosmetology.
The PCHS CTE Center serves the students of Pulaski County by offering competency-based instruction to prepare students for life after high school. Students are able to select from 21 programs based on their strengths and interests. All students participate in Career and Technical Student Organizations, which develop leadership, critical thinking, and offer students the opportunity to compete using the technical skills they learn in their CTE courses.
The CTE Center encourages students to find their passion and prepare for life after high school. There are opportunities to connect with local businesses, participate in work-based learning activities, and develop soft-skills needed to be a successful student and employee. We pride ourselves on providing hands-on instruction that adapts to keep up with industry standards.
Programs are available in the fields of Agriculture Education, Business and Information Technology, Family and Consumer Sciences, Health and Medical Sciences, Marketing, Technology Education, and Trade and Industry.
For more information on the PCHS CTE program and the opportunities they offer, visit www.pcva.us, go to Pulaski County High School, then select the CTE-STEM link on the menu bar.
