Schools, businesses engaged in K-12 partnerships across the state encouraged to apply
West Virginia Press Association
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — With the goal of recognizing impactful school-business partnerships that are giving West Virginia K-12 students a leg up in academic success and career preparation, the Education Alliance, in partnership with Hope Gas, has launched the Hope for the Future: WV School-Business Partnership of the Year Awards Program.
West Virginia schools and businesses engaged in partnerships serving K12 students across the state are encouraged to apply. Eight Regional Partnerships of the Year will be named, with each earning a $2,000 Celebration Grant. One State Partnership of the Year will receive an award package valued at $25,000.
Partnerships in the following categories are encouraged to apply:
– Academic (reading, math, financial literacy, etc.)
– Career Exploration (speaker presentations/tours)
– Career Readiness (internships, work-based learning)
– School Strategic Plan/Advisory Participation partnerships
– Social/emotional (mentoring)
To learn more or to apply, visit www.educationalliance.org/caperton. Applications are due by March 7, 2025.
Dr. Amelia Courts, President/CEO of the Education Alliance, said, “This Partnership of the Year Award will highlight the incredible impact of school-business partnerships on students across West Virginia. We are thrilled to partner with Hope Gas on this initiative, and we encourage educators and businesses to submit an application to be recognized for their collaborative efforts on behalf of our students.”
Morgan O’Brien, Chief Executive Officer of Hope Gas, said, “One of Hope’s goals is to Keep our Kids in West Virginia by making sure they have opportunities to achieve their fullest education, career and life potential right here in the Mountain State. Our state’s K-12 staff also want our children to have unlimited opportunities to grow and thrive. Our business community, including Hope Gas, feels similarly, and we are deeply engaged in furthering that goal. School-business partnerships are critical to exposing students to careers and preparing them for the evolving job landscape.”
Examples of West Virginia school-business partnerships include:
AEP partners with Nitro High School, Kanawha County, to support a project-based learning experience focused on lineman safety. As part of this initiative, students reviewed the AEP lineman’s current safety harness and worked with the AEP team members to develop an improved model. They created an electronic safety clip prototype and are one of eight teams across the USA competing in the MIT InvenTeam competition.
Hope Gas partners with Monongalia County Technical Education Center to provide paid summer internships in which high school students gain safety training, field experiences, and undertake a capstone project. These programs expand post-secondary opportunities by enhancing instruction with real-world experiences.
Toyota’s 4T Academy connects 11th- and 12th-grade students in local Kanawha, Mason, and Putnam County high schools with career opportunities in advanced manufacturing. During the two-year program, students gain real world experience while working alongside and learning from industry professionals. Seniors receive an hourly wage during their final semester in a paid internship.
WVU Medicine’s MedEd program launched its first year of implementation with both Monongalia and Jefferson County Schools. Eleventh grade students are onsite at their respective hospital locations one day a week and rotate through various departments to get an overview of healthcare careers. Seniors are “matched” with one hospital department for their entire senior year, with a paid internship during their second semester.
Food Lion in White Sulphur Springs (WSS) has played a vital role in enhancing student learning by actively engaging WSS Elementary students in educational experiences for over two decades. The store team participates in Career Day and hosts immersive field trips, allowing students to
explore various grocery store roles, including cashier, stock clerk, and manager. Students gain practical insights into the industry through hands-on activities like stocking shelves, bagging groceries, and managing inventory.
For more information on The Education Alliance, please visit www.educationalliance.org.
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About The Education Alliance
The Education Alliance is a statewide nonprofit organization that advocates for a quality public education for all students. Established in 1983, the Alliance works to advance its mission by mobilizing business and community partnerships that equip West Virginia’s students for success. For more information, visit educationalliance.org.
