Career and technical education programs within Chesterfield County Public Schools won three awards this year in the Virginia Department of Education’s Creating Excellence Awards. The annual awards recognize exemplary programs in career and technical education.
Dominion Energy won the statewide and the Region 1 Secondary Business and Industry Partnership Award for its support of Chesterfield County Public Schools.
Dominion Energy advances the school system’s career and technical education programs through invaluable industry exposure, curriculum collaboration, hands-on learning and workforce readiness initiatives. Dominion Days brings interactive demonstrations to schools, while job shadowing, career fairs and guest speakers connect students with energy sector professionals. Dominion Energy invests in educator development by offering job shadowing experiences and providing feedback on curriculum, credentials and industry-aligned training. Dominion Energy’s support for career and technical student organizations further enriches student success. Public awareness of career and technical education is amplified through Dominion Energy’s media partnerships, social media outreach and community engagement. The company’s unwavering commitment ensures students graduate with the skills, knowledge and confidence needed for career success, making them an exemplary partner in workforce development.
Matoaca High School’s technology and engineering education program won the Secondary CTE Exemplary Program Award for Region 1.
The program offers students valuable opportunities that prepare them for college, the military or the workforce. Through engineering-focused courses and concentration sequences that include courses like unmanned aircraft systems (the first course of its kind in central Virginia), students may earn a Federal Aviation Administration remote pilot certificate for commercial drone operations. Technical drawing and design courses provide opportunities to earn Autodesk certification and dual-enrollment credit through Brightpoint Community College. Partnerships with engineering firms offer students valuable work-based learning experiences, and collaborations with the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education and Richard Bland College create pathways for cooperative work and learning opportunities in the manufacturing industry.
The Agriculture Advisory Council at the Career and Technical Center @ Courthouse won the Secondary Advisory Committee Award for Region 1.
The Agriculture Advisory Council coalesces around three priorities: providing excellent work-based learning opportunities for students interested in entering the fields of agriculture, horticulture, conservation and landscaping; guiding and supporting the curriculum to inform the program of industry needs; and advocating for program development to align with industry standards. The Agriculture Advisory Council achieves its objectives by providing internships, field trips and guest speakers; reviewing course competencies and informing the instructor of industry trends; and providing financial support and advocacy to meet changing industry and community needs. Council members dedicate time, labor and resources to ensure students enrolled in floriculture, introduction to plant systems and greenhouse plant production and management will successfully transition into postsecondary education or the workforce.