Keeping It Real

Central Virginia’s educators and employers are strengthening connections between the classroom and the “real world” to support STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) career paths. It’s a serious, long-term endeavor aimed at maintaining a tech-savvy regional workforce.

There are many reasons why Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell is planning to allocate $50 million more to higher education in 2011. But one priority is to add 100,000 additional associate and bachelor’s degrees over the next 15 years, especially in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.

In Central Virginia, the governor’s announcement reinforced the urgency behind the region’s existing STEM programs and buoyed excitement about plans currently in the works. “We already have a history of success,” says Jonathan Whitt, executive director of the Region 2000 Technology Council. “In fact, we’ve been invited to other parts of the state to share best practices and explain how our programs are set up.”

For nearly a decade, the Technology Council has been attracting grants and implementing school-based programs, summer academies, competitions, and special events for students ages 6–18. Recently, the council established its own 501c3 nonprofit organization, the Future Focus Foundation, to raise the additional funds necessary to maintain and expand STEM efforts on all fronts. The foundation received $50,000 in contributions its first year.

“Right now we’re reaching about 10,000 students annually through our Get Set magazine, website, and other communications efforts,” says Whitt. “And we’re able to engage 1,000 students in direct, hands-on activities. Our goal is to increase both numbers fivefold.”

In addition to partnering with Central Virginia Community College and Liberty University, the Region 2000 Technology Council’s STEM programs enjoy the support and participation of parents and K–12 teachers, as well as area colleges and companies.

Connect, Grow, Live

Maintaining a tech-savvy regional workforce also entails strengthening connections between young professionals and the wider community through social, educational, and service-based events.

The Young Professionals of Central Virginia (YPCV) organization helps newcomers find their niche, personally and professionally. It’s a mission neatly summarized in the group’s slogan: Connect, Grow, Live.

Every month, the organization partners with an area business—usually a restaurant—to host a 535 Event (starting after work at 5:35 p.m.). These informal gatherings are a great way to meet people and become familiar with local eateries,music venues, and other attractions. The YPCV also keeps members up to date on other entertainment and recreational happenings around town. But the group is more than a social club. In addition to social events, the YPCV sponsors a monthly speakers series, a luncheon featuring guests with expertise in a wide range of career topics. The series is augmented by many other professional-development and networking opportunities scheduled throughout the year.

Of all the activities the YPCV offers, the organization prides itself on community service. Once a month, the YPCV partners with an area charity, providing volunteers for local nonprofits that need bright, energetic, hands-on help.

Workforce Development
When it comes to developing talent and upgrading skills, Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) is one of the region's most vital resources.

The college's commitment to effective workforce development is exemplified by the Areva Technology Center on its Lynchburg campus. Local industries participated in the planning and funding of this $10 million, 35,000-square-foot facility—a real-world training ground for a variety of technical fields. Dedicated labs include RF technology, microcomputer repair, networking, CNC machining, and HVAC technology.

CVCC has vast experience in creating customized certificate and degree programs to fit the exact training objectives of area employers. The community college also works with area universities, including a partnership with the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Sciences that allows students to study for two years at CVCC and then transfer to UVa to complete their engineering degrees.

The college recently completed a $4.2 million renovation of its library and resource center. A new $2.4 million culinary arts school is under construction. In addition to its Lynchburg campus, CVCC has four satellite campuses in the region.

A World-Class Legacy
Corporate buzzwords come and go. Over a decade ago, when Dr. Darrel W. Staat first set foot on the Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) campus, the phrase of the day was world-class.

Within Central Virginia's business community, world-class was a make-or-break concept. World-class companies engaged in a relentless and measurable pursuit of quality. They fostered teamwork, embraced new technologies, contracted with like-minded suppliers, and set the goal of exceeding customer expectations. Achieving world-class status was a never-ending process that required workforce training and retraining and retraining and retraining.

CVCC's new president got it. Dr. Staat understood that world-class was not a fad. It was a heading-into-the-21st-century hurdle that communities would have to jump with air to spare or drop out of the race.

"Dr. Staat was everywhere in the community, on every commission and committee," says Don Sutton, dean of institutional advancement at CVCC. "He'd come back to campus with a checklist, and there was never any question—we were going to get it all done."

CVCC's "World-Class Workforce" campaign resulted in a multi-million dollar upgrade and expansion of the college's technology, programs, and facilities. And the process continues to this day.

In the summer of 2010, President Staat moved on to a state-level executive position, leading South Carolina's technical college system. The phrase world-class has moved, too, back to its traditional definition, meaning "the best of the best." Though whichever way you interpret it, Dr. Darrel W. Staat is a world-class educator. He will be missed.

STEM:

The Technology council's current programming provides a year-round calendar of related events for public, private, and home-schooled students throughout Central Virginia:

• Junior FIRST Lego League captures the inherent curiosity of children ages 6–9.
• FIRST Lego League is a global robotics program and competition that ignites enthusiasm for discovery in kids ages 9–14.
• VEX Robotics is a robotics program for students ages 14–18 that culminates in a local competition and regional tournament.
• Get Set is an annual magazine and website for 8th and 9th grade students. Visit getset.cc.
• Summer Academies are weeklong technology camps for area middle and high school students.
• The Future Focus Career Expo brings industry and education together in a trade-show format.
• Summer Internships are a great way for high school and college students to gain experience in technology-focused careers.
• The Speakers Bureau gives professionals an opportunity to serve as role models for STEM careers.