Empowering the Future Workforce: Southwest Virginia’s Energy Education Feasibility Study and Pilot Project

In October of 2024 the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center received a grant to conduct a feasibility study on Energy Education. This pilot project will explore the need for middle school energy education in preparing students for a future workforce in the energy field.  The project will focus on research, exploring career pathways, curriculum development and launching a pilot academy.

This project is funded in part by the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center and GO Virginia, a state-funded initiative administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) that strengthens and diversifies Virginia’s economy and fosters the creation of higher wage jobs in strategic industries.

The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center is partnering with Virginia Tech’s Southwest Center and Center for Coal & Energy Research, the City of Bristol, Russell County, Smyth County and Washington County School districts along with InvestSWVA on this project.

For more information, contact Energy Education Academy Coordinator Crystal Bazyk at cbazyk@swcenter.edu or (276) 619-4318.